CO537-6817 — Page 13

1 February 1951

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Appendix to Minutes

of a meeting held in the Colonial Secretariat Hong Kong on 12/1/51.

NOTES ON CIVIL MEASURES FOR DEFENCE

14502/15.

Prepared by the Defence Secretary, Hong Kong Government

CIVIL DEFENCE

Organisation

1.

A Commissioner, Civil Defence Services, and three Deputy Commissioners have been appointed. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners have held preliminary discussions with Defence Secretary and an organisation and plan is now being prepared by each Deputy for submission about 16 January.

Medical

2.

Legislation formally setting up an Auxiliary Medical Service has now been enacted. It is fairly certain that most of St. John's Ambulance will join immediately which will mean that about 40 extra doctors and 1,200 trained first aid workers will be available. 146 Auxiliary Nurses have completed their first aid training and a fortnight's work in hospital.

3.

A maximum of 2,200 beds will be available for air-raid casualties, and 1,000 casualties requiring admission to hospital can be dealt with in the first 24 hours.

4.

7 first aid posts in Hong Kong and 4 in Kowloon are established. Additional posts will be set up in tunnels.

5.

30 ambulances are available but the number is inadequate. Experiments in the conversion of lorries into ambulances have been undertaken, and a prototype ambulance-lorry built. Drivers are at present seriously short, but it is proposed to start training St. John's Ambulance drivers immediately.

Fire Services

6.

250 Auxiliary Fire Service members are under training in both fire fighting and rescue work. This is the maximum that can be trained at one time at, present. There is a waiting list of about 400 applicants for membership.

7.

There is a serious shortage of European Fire Officers for the regular Fire Brigade, 6 only being available rut of an establishment of 11. Secretary of State has been asked to expedite recruitment or arrange a loan of officers from England.

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