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Fire services personnel awarded long service insignia
Seventy-six fire and ambulance services personnel were today (Friday) awarded long service medals and clasps for their distinguished performance in serving the public.
Forty of them received the Second Clasp to the Colonial Fire Brigades Long Service Medal for their 30 years of service, 27 the First Clasp for 25 years of service, and the remaining nine the long service medal for 18 years of service.
The recipients had altogether contributed 2,037 years of service in the Fire Services Department.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Director of Fire Services, Mr Peter Cheung, said the award of the medals and clasps was a recognition of the officers' diligent performance in providing dedicated services to the community.
Mr Cheung, in his pep talk, told the officers that: "The presentation of the medals and clasps is a solid evidence that you have all discharged your duties loyally and diligently, and that your performances have received the acclaim of your superiors, the department and the Government."
Mr Cheung urged the recipients to persevere the department's tradition in providing efficient and quality services to the public.
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Firing of 21-Gun Salute to mark Queen's birthday
To mark the anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's birthday, the Royal Navy will fire a 21-Gun Salute from HMS Starling at precisely noon on Monday (April 22), as she sails through Hong Kong harbour.
When HMS Tamar moved from Prince of Wales Barracks to Stonecutters Island in 1993, gun salutes were fired from a site on the south shore of that island. However, the site was unsatisfactory because it was invisible to the public and it has since been developed by preparatory work for the new naval base for the PLA Navy.