3
SUNDAY, MAY 23, 1976
THIS DIVISION OF WORK WAS THE RECOMMENDATION BY A PSYCHIATRIST IN ENGLAND WHO WAS INVITED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ADVISE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE SERVICES IN 1960.
MR. KHOO STRESSED THAT THE CONSTANT REVIEWS AND SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION AMONG THE THREE DEPARTMENTS AND COORDINATION BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT HAD ENABLED THE SYSTEM TO WORK EFFECTIVELY FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.
NEW MOBILE COMMAND UNIT FOR F.S.D.
*******
A NEW VEHICLE, WHICH WILL SERVE AS THE NERVE CENTRE OF OPERATIONS AT ANY MAJOR FIRE OR SPECIAL INCIDENT, WILL JOIN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S FLEET SHORTLY.
KNOWN AS A MOBILE COMMAND UNIT, IT IS AIR-CONDITIONED AND CARRIES THE USUAL FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS AND SIREN.
MOUNTED ON A BEDFORD BUS CHASSIS, THE NEW MCU HAS AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 30 FEET - TEN FEET LONGER THAN THOSE BEING USED AT PRESENT,
THE VEHICLE LAYOUT WAS DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIRE SERVICES SPECIFICATIONS AND THE INTERIOR FITTINGS WERE CARRIED OUT IN FIRE SERVICES WORKSHOPS.
THE INTERIOR OF THE MCU IS DIVIDED INTO A NUMBER OF COMPARTMENTS SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE MAXIMUM UTILIZATION OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE.
THE FRONT AND CENTRE COMPARTMENTS CONSIST OF MOBILISING AREAS AND A CONFERENCE ROOM, TOGETHER WITH TOILET FACILITIES.
RADIO SETS, BOTH FIXED AND PORTABLE, AND A TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD WITH FIVE EXTENSIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR COMMUNICATION PURPOSES.
AN AERIAL AND A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM ARE ALSO FITTED. THIS AERIAL CAN BE EXTENDED 34 FEET ABOVE THE VEHICLE IF IT PROVES TO BE NECESSARY IN AREA WHERE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS ARE DIFFICULT.
TELEPHONE BOOTHS WITH THREE EXTENSIONS FORM THE REAR COMPARTMENT WHICH CAN BE USED BY LIAISON OFFICERS OF OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS POLICE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE ARMY, AT THE SCENE OF MAJOR INCIDENTS.
COMMENTING ON THE NEW APPLIANCE, A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID: +THIS NEW VEHICLE IS A PROTOTYPE AND IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE FULL FACILITIES FOR FIRE SERVICES CONTROL AND COMMAND AT THE SCENE OF FIRE, LANDSLIDES, FLOODING OR AIRCRASH.+
+AFTER SUCCESSFUL TRIAL, A FURTHER TWO WILL BE ORDERED TO REPLACE THE EXISTING OLD ONEŠ,+ HE ADDED.
/4