FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1984
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GOVERNOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO FIRE SERVICES
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HONG KONG'S FIRE SERVICES WERE WIDELY KNOWN AND RESPECTED FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND EFFICIENCY IN THE ARDUOUS AND DEMANDING JOB OF FIRE-FIGHTING IN HIGH-RISE HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
AND THIS HIGH CALIBRE OF THE SERVICE WAS AMPLY DEMONSTRATED IN THE NO. 5 ALARM FIRE AT THE BLUE BOX FACTORY BUILDING IN TIN WAN IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
SPEAKING TONIGHT AT THE SENIOR OFFICERS' MESS DINNER OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SIR EDWARD SAID HE RECOGNISED THE IMMENSE TASK WITH WHICH THE SERVICES WERE FACED.
*YOU CAN BE PROUD OF THE SKILL, PERSEVERANCE AND COURAGE WHICH YOUR FIREMEN SHOWED IN FIGHTING NOT ONLY THAT BLAZE, BUT THE MANY OTHERS WHICH FACE YOU ALMOST EVERY DAY, HE SAID.
THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, AS PART OF THE FIRE SERVICES, ALSO HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE, HE SAID.
IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, THE AMBULANCE SERVICE HAD ANSWERED NEARLY 900 CALLS A DAY AND CARRIED SOME 350 000 PATIENTS.
+THESE ARE RECORD FIGURES THEY REFLECT THE HIGH LEVEL OF DEMAND ON THE SERVICE AND ITS READY RESPONSE TO HUMAN NEED, SIR EDWARD SAID.
A NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING FOR THE FIRE SERVICES IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1986.
BY THEN, HE SAID, THE FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS, THE AMBULANCE COMMAND, THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU AND THE COMMUNICATION CENTRE WOULD BE BROUGHT UNDER THE SAME ROOF.
+1 AM SURE THIS WILL FURTHER EN HANCE EFFICIENCY, HE SAID.
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