FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1982
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FIREMEN COMMENDED FOR RESCUE WORK
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THIRTY-FIVE FIREMEN ATTACHED TO KOWLOON FIRE COMMAND WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) PRESENTED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES' COMMENDATION AT A CEREMONY BY THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF KOWLOON FIRE COMMAND, MR ANTHONY CONWAY, FOR REMOVING FOUR WORKERS TRAPPED IN A COLLAPSED BUILDING BEING DEMOLISHED IN KWUN TONG IN APRIL.
THE FIREMEN WERE COMMENDED FOR THE IR DETERMINATION, SKILL, INITIATIVE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY DURING THE INCIDENT IN WHICH THE WORKERS WERE TRAPPED UNDER TONS OF CONCRETE DEBRIS.
TWO OF THE WORKMEN, HOWEVER, HAD DIED FROM THEIR INJURIES.
RECALLING THE INCIDENT A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID THE FIREMEN HAD TO WORK UNDER THE MOST HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR ALMOST EIGHT HOURS. THEY HAD TO USE ONLY SHOVELS AND SOMETIMES THE IR BARE HANDS IN REMOVING THE DEBRIS, AS HEAVY EQUIPMENT COULD NOT BE USED FOR FEAR OF CAUSING FÜRTHER COLLAPSE AND ENDANGER ING BOTH THE TRAPPED WORKERS AND THE FIREMEN,
IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AT THAT TIME, MAKING THE RESCUE WORK EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
MR CONWAY ALSO PRESENTED THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER'S COMMENDATION TO A STATION OFFICER AND A FIREMAN FOR ASSISTING THE POLICE IN APPREHENDING A MURDER SUSPECT IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR IN YAU MA TEI IN KOWLOON,
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