SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 1982
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CENTRAL FIRE STATION WILL BE REMEMBERED
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CENTRAL FIRE STATION, A LANDMARK IN THE HEART OF HONG KONG'S COMMERCIAL DISTRICT FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY, IS SOON TO BE DEMOLISHED TO GIVE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
THE FIRE STATION IS WELL REMEMBERED BY MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED OR LIVED IN THE AREA FOR THE PAST 56 YEARS AS THE IR SAVIOUR IN PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTIES.
SITUATED AT 91 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION HAS BEEN THE BASTION OF FIRE DEFENCE FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA. DURING ITS LONG HISTORY, THE FIRE STATION HAS HOUSED MANY FIRE APPLIANCES FROM MANUAL FIRE PUMPS TO THE PRESENT 26-METER SNORKEL AND AMBULANCES. THE FIRE STATION HAS RESPONDED TO COUNTLESS OF INCIDENTS.
+THE CLOSURE OF THE FIRE STATION WILL IN NO WAY LESSEN THE AVAILABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT AND MANPOWER IN ATTENDING INCIDENTS IN THE AREA, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
+ IN ORDER TO HAVE A PROPER FIRE AND OTHER CALAMITY DEFENCE FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT AND ITS NEIGHBOURING AREA, TWO FIRE STATIONS ONE AT SHEUNG WAN, THE OTHER IN GARDEN ROAD WERE COMMISSIONED LAST YEAR AND HAVE NOW ASSUMED THE RESPONSIBILITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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A CLOSING-DOWN CEREMONY WAS HELD TODAY. AMONGST THOSE WITNESSING TODAY'S CEREMONY ARE MANY SERVING AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE SOME TIME IN THEIR CAREERS SERVED AT THE OLD CENTRAL FIRE STATION.
+THEY WILL RECALL OF NUMEROUS INCIDENTS THEY ATTENDED, SOME HUMOUROUS, MANY TRAGIC. THEY BORE WITNESS TO THE ANGUISH AND THE SUFFERING OF THOSE AFFLICTED BY THE RAVAGES OF FIRE, TEMPEST AND OTHER CALAMITIES, HE SAID.
+THEY WILL ALSO RECALL THEIR OWN AND THEIR COLLEAGUES' DETERMINED EFFORTS UNDER EXACTING AND ARDUOUS CONDITIONS AND OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO RODE FROM CENTRAL FIRE STATION AND NEVER RETURNED. IN THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND DEDICATION TO THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSION THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES.+
TO MARK THE CLOSING CEREMONY, 12 FIRE APPLIANCES AND AN AMBULANCE MAKE A SYMBOLIC TURN-OUT' FOR THE LAST TIME FROM THE FIRE STATION.
THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR F.M. WATSON WHO IS THE GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE CEREMONY, IS PRESENTED WITH A FLAG WHICH HAS BEEN FLYING AT THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION FOR THE LAST TIME, BY A PROBATIONARY STATION OFFICER.
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