50
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new Ambulances which are on order and which are now included in the Fire Service. It is considered that the Motor Ambulance service can most profitably be attached to the Fire Brigade as it is in London.. A Motor Mechanic is also added and allowance is made for an Engineer with the requisite technical knowledge who will be attached to the Brigade. Further it is essential that a proper staff of Interpreters and Telephone Clerks should now be provided. Each European officer is therefore provided with an Intex preter as in the Sanitary Department. These Interpreters will also do the clerical work of the Brigade. The Telephone Clerks will provide an uninterrupted telephone service to answer calls at both stations, c.g., Headquarters and Kowloon.
Drivers.-There are 15 at present of whom 5 are professional chauffeurs and 10 European Policemen. It is proposed to provide two drivers for each machine. There will be before the end of 1921 :-
2 Motor Tenders.
requiring 20 drivers in all
5 Motor Pumps.
{
3 Motor Ambulances.
10 1st Class at $480-$600 p.a. 10 2nd Class at $360-$420 p.a.
Good drivers cannot be got under $40 p.m. but the Brigade can train its own men · as has been done in the past and thus obtain new men at a cheaper rate than outside.
8. It will be necessary to retain the steam engine drivers and stokers as they are required to man :--
(a) Steam Fire float at Aberdeen.
(b) (c)
"
engine at Kowloon required as a stand by or for small fires.
Shaukiwan.
(d)
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Un Long, New Territories.
These engines though small are still quite serviceable for the protection of outlying places. The floating engines will be taken over by the Superintendent of the Brigade and both floats will have full crews and be kept under banked fires, one float will be stationed on the Victoria and the other on the Kowloon side of the harbour. This arrangement will make it possible for one float to attend land fires near the shore with the least possible delay, and both will be available for ship fires. The Estimate of personnel allows for this new arrangement.
(II.)--Equipment.
Recent comments have laid stress on the inadequate equipment of the Fire Brigade, particularly afloat. I propose to deal with equipment:
A. on land
B. afloat
C. Fire Stations.
A.-EQUIPMENT ON LAND.
The land equipment of the Brigade consists at present of:
Motor Tender 1 (Victoria) with portable extension ladder 50 feet.
Motor Pumps 3 (Victoria 2, Kowloon 1).
The Kowloon Motor Pump carries a portable Extension ladder 45 feet.
Steain Fire Engines :--1
Kowloon
I
Shaukiwan
Aberdeen (float)
1 Ι
Un Long, New Territories. 1
Hosereels 4 (Kowloon and Victoria) these will gradually be done
away with.
Hose 27,770 feet (Victoria and Kowloon).
Hose Despatch Boxes, 41 for outlying districts and for incipient
outbreaks of fire.