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REPORT ON AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS FOR 1938.
1. The Air Raid Precautions Sub-committee-a branch of the Local Defence Committee-held meetings throughout the year. Mr. W. R. Scott was chairman. On the arrival of the Air Raid Precautions Officer, the chairmanship was taken over by Wing Commander A.II.S. Steele-Perkins.
2. Wing Commander Steele-Perkins was appointed Air Raid Precautions Officer on 20th January, 1938, and arrived in the Colony on 16th March, 1988.
I.
Volunteers.
The basis of the work of the Air Raid Precautions Officer during the year was the preparation of a local A.R.P. scheme and the enrolment of volunteers. The number of those who volunteered for instruction or service was small at the beginning but increased as the active work and propaganda of the department attracted the public's attention. The present position may be regarded as satisfactory provided that the rate of progress in enlistment can be maintained.
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II. Propaganda and Advice to the Public.
Several broadcast talks on A.R.P. have been given throughout the year. The demand for A.R.P. Handbooks increased during the year. copies were distributed to volunteers. The handbooks are also on sale to the Free public, both in English and Chinese language.
3. Arrangements for an exhibition of A.R.P. paraphernalia at the University unfortunately had to be cancelled owing the extreme pressure of work in other directions. It was possible, however, to hold an exhibition in the Union Churcl Hall, Hong Kong, which was attended by His Excellency the Governor and Lady Northcote.
4. An A.R.P. Exhibition was given by the Women's Air Raid Precautions Union on August 11th and 12th at the Union Church, Kennedy Road, and was also attended by His Excellency the Governor and Lady Northcote.
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III. Instruction and Training.
Public lectures on Air Raid Precautions started in December, 1937, at the China Fleet Club and continued until February 1938.
2. Lectures and preliminary training to members of St. John Ambulance Brigade and of the Police Reserve were given by Mr. Chak Tai Kwong, and by S.T. (R.) Dunlop (who had attended the Anti-gas School at Falfield, England.)
3. The Air Raid Precautions Officer, after his arrival, started a series of lectures and instruction which has been ever since gathering momentum. that some 12,000 people have attended them to the time of writing this report; and It is estimated the average number of courses running daily is 5. now have trained squads of A.R.P. personnel. Trained instructors number eighteen. All important business firms
4. Preliminary plans for the erection of an Air Raid Precautions Training School were considered during the year.
IV. Wardens.
1. An A.R.P. Wardens' Main Committee was appointed in May, under the chairmanship of Mr. Pentreath, the members of the committee consisting of some of the well known residents living in the Colony.
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2. The A.R.P. Wardens' Sub-committee was given the task of organizing Air Raid Wardens and Posts in each Police division of Hong Kong and Kowloon.
3. The Warden Posts were fixed at the ratio of one to every 100 houses: each post to consist of three (two men and one woman) who would work on a two shift basis during an emergency.
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Some advance 4. Twenty two District Sub-committees have now been formed. has been made in finding suitable Warden Posts and enrolling the necessary number of Wardens, but the rate of progress is necessarily slow. It is necessary to establish approximately 1,600 posts making a total recruitment of 9,000 men and wo'nen, ach of whom is expected to attend a course of fifteen lectures and to puss an examination.
V. Women Air Raid Precautions Union.
1. The Women's Air Raid Precautions Union was formed in May under the chairmanship of Mrs. Steele-Perkins. Lady Northcote consented to be president. The object of the Union is to teach simple air raid precautions and elementary first aid to as many ladies of the Colony as possible to enable them to put this informa tion into practice in their own homes should an emergency ever arise.
2. The A.R.P. lectures organized by this Union were held in the various women's clubs, European and Chinese, and were very well attended.
3. An advanced course in A.R.P. services especially suitable to women was als: instituted.
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Decontamination.
Squads numbering seven persons apiece were organized in this work, and eighteen squads have already been trained. A total of forty squads is considered
necessary.
Other activities included—
GENERAL.
1.
Plans for safeguarding vital services.
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Provision of respirators and protective clothing for essential services.
3.
Provision of stores and equipment for A.R.P. Services.
The formation of Rescue, Road Repair and Demolition Parties and the provision of equipment.
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5. The provision of additional equipment and plans for the formation of an auxiliary Fire Brigade Service.
6. To cooperation with the Hon. D.M.S. and the Director of St. John Ambulance Brigade and Association, the formation of plans for the Medical Services.
7. Plans for the provision of an A.R.P. store.
VI. Blackouts.
1. A blackout was held on February 20th.
2. A surprise blackout to discover the extent to which the public had beer educated in air raid precautions was held in September. For the purpose of the exercise it was announced that a "precautionary period" of seven days commencing on September 1st would be followed by an air raid warning period" on September 8th at 8.30 p.m. to continue for 72 hours. During this period the air raid warning signal was sounded.
3. A series of blackout exercises were made during the combined manoeuvres -November 21st to 28th-to test the air raid precautions. The first was from 9.15 p.m. to 11.15 p.m. on November 24th. The second was announced to take place at any time between 25th and 27th November. There was a precautionary period preceding these exercises.
4. In the first blackout, the public gave their full co-operation, and the exercise was successful, but the same high standard was not maintained in the latter series of blackouts.
VII. Syrens.
Electric syrens for Hong Kong and Kowloon were ordered during the year and those for Hong Kong have been erected.
VIII. Messengers.
An A.R.P. Cyclist Corps was formed to ensure Communications in the event of the breakdown of the telephone service. A number of Boy Scouts were also enrolled for this duty.
A.H. 3. RTESLE - POrung
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