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7.
Better fire protection for residents
The Tsing Yi South Fire Station is responsible for protecting the special risks posed by the potentially hazardous industries (PHIS) on Tsing Yi Island.
Speaking at the official opening of the fire station today (Thursday), the Chief Ambulance Officer, Mr Mak Kwai-pui, said that to address residents' concerns on PHIS on the island, the Government had conducted risk assessment studies and undertaken a series of improvement programmes.
"The building of this fire station was one of the positive steps that the Government has taken to improve safety," he said.
"The fire station is also provided with 28,500 litres of foam concentrate which is an effective medium for extinguishing oil fire."
Mr Mak added that the location of the fire station was selected after giving due consideration to the special risks on the island that had to be protected.
At present, the prominent industrial undertakings on the island include a power station, two major shipyards, three chemical installations and five major oil terminals.
"These numbers will be greatly increased by mid 1996 when all major industrial risks and PHIs on the island will have been relocated to the west and south- western side," he said.
As a result of such relocation, all the residential developments on the eastern side would be separated from the PHIs on the island by a natural barrier of mountain ridge, he noted. The Tsing Yi South Fire Station covers an area of six square kilometres where most of the buildings are for industrial use.
It also serves a population of 20,000 living in one housing estate. one temporary housing area and one village.
The fire station has answered 147 emergency calls since its commissioning on January 24, 1994.
On ambulance services, Mr Mak said that the Tsing Yi Ambulance Depot at Ha Ko Tan Street had been giving prompt and efficient ambulance services to residents on the island.
End/Thursday, August 31, 1995