XN000022-1976-05-26 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1976

AMBULANCE COMMAND RECEIVES RECORD NUMBER OF CALLS

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THE AMBULANCE COMMAND OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS BROKEN THROUGH THE 500 CALLS PER DAY BARRIER AFTER COMING CLOSE TO THAT FIGURE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.

DURING THE 24-HOUR PERIOD ENDED AT 7 A.M. TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE COMMAND RESPONDED TO A TOTAL OF 516 CALLS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 21 CALLS PER HOUR.

OF THE TOTAL, 425 WERE EMERGENCY, NUMBER OF PATIENTS CARRIED TOTALLED 692.

AND 91 NON-EMERGENCY. THE

HONG KONG DIVISION ANSWERED 171 CALLS, KOWLOON DIVISION 240 CALLS AND NEW TERRITORIES DIVISION 105 CALLS,

THE PREVIOUS HIGHEST NUMBER OF CALLS WAS 471 ACHIEVED ON MARCH 6 THIS YEAR.

COMMENTING ON THE NEW RECORD, A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT FULLY EXPECTED THE UPWARD TREND TO CONTINUE AND, FOR THIS REASON THE NUMBER OF AMBULANCES AND DEPOTS WAS BEING

INCREASED.

+THERE ARE PLANS TO BUILD MORE AMBULANCE DEPOTS OR STATIONS IN STRATEGIC AREAS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG,+ HE SAID. THE FIRST OF THESE WILL BE A STATION AT HING WAH HOUSING ESTATE IN CHAI WAN AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE OPENED LATER THIS YEAR.+

AT PRESENT, THE AMBULANCE COMMAND HAS A FLEET OF 99 AMBULANCES. THESE VEHICLES ARE FITTED WITH AN IMPROVED TYPE OF STRETCHER GEAR TOGETHER WITH OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO SUIT LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.

BILLS PASSED

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FOUR BILLS, INCLUDING THE THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, PASSED THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE OTHER BILLS PASSED 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.

SIX OTHER BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING. THEY WERE THE THE ESTATE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976, THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE BOOKS REGISTRATION BILL 1976 AND THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED.

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