XN000022-1976-05-12 — Page 15

14

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1976

SUFFICIENT AMBULANCES TO MEET DEMAND

******

THE NUMBER OF AMBULANCES IN THE AMBULANCES DIVISION OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET EXISTING DEMAND, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. F.K, LI TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG, HE SAID: +AT THE END OF 1975, THERE WERE 91 AMBULANCES, OF WHICH 74 WERE OPERATIONAL AND 17 WERE FOR RESERVE AND TRAINING PURPOSES. EIGHT NEW AMBULANCES HAVE JUST BEEN DELIVERED AND TWO OF THESE ARE RESERVE VEHICLES.+

MR. LI SAID THERE WERE 19 VACANCIES IN THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT OF 488 FOR THE OPERATIONAL AMBULANCES, AND 37 ADDITIONAL POSTS WERE BEING SOUGHT FOR THE NEWLY ARRIVED VEHICLES.

+ACTION IS NOW IN HAND TO RECRUIT ADDITIONAL STAFF TO FILL THE EXISTING 19 VACANCIES AND FOR THE ANTICIPATED 37 NEW POSTS,+ HE ADDED.

BILLS PASSED

***

SIX BILLS, INCLUDING THE MOTOR VEHICLES INSURANCE (THIRD PARTY RISKS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, PASSED THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE OTHER BILLS PASSED WERE THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE DISTRICT COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE PROBATION OF OFFENDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

THREE OTHER BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING. THEY WERE THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE MIDWIVES REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976.

DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED.

/15