XN000022-1976-12-15 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1976

TRIBUTE TO FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT *******

THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHICH, HE SAID, +ENJOYS A VERY HIGH REPUTATION, NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FOR COURAGE, EFFICIENCY AND SKILL.+

ADDRESSING A PARADE AT THE HARBOUR ROAD FIRE STATION DURING WHICH HE PRESENTED LONG SERVICE MEDALS AND CLASPS TO OVER 70 RETIRED AND SERVING FIRE FIGHTERS, SIR DENYS SAID : +1 HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL FEEL THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN A FIRST CLASS SERVICE.+

FORTY-SIX MEN, WHO HAVE 18 YEARS' SERVICE, WERE AWARDED LONG SERVICE MEDALS. SEVENTEEN OTHERS WITH 25 YEARS' SERVICE RECEIVED FIRST CLASPS TO THEIR MEDALS WHILE THE REMAINING 10 WHO HAVE OVER 30 YEARS' SERVICE, RECEIVED SECOND CLASPS TO THEIR MEDALS.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SIR DENYS' SPEECH.

+I AM VERY GLAD TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND THIS PARADE AND TO PRESENT MEDALS AND CLASPS TO THE MANY OFFICERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED LONG PERIODS OF SERVICE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

+1 AM PLEASED TO BE HERE FOR TWO PARTICULAR REASONS. FIRST. BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO EXPRESS THE THANKS OF THE COMMUNITY TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED AWARDS TODAY. FOR THE INVALUABLE WORK WHICH THEY HAVE PERFORMED FOR PERIODS OF UP TO THIRTY YEARS.

+SECOND, BECAUSE IT ENABLES ME TO SPEAK BRIEFLY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT AND OF THE ADMIRABLE WAY IN WHICH IT HAS CARRIED OUT ITS TASK.

+ IN ANY COMMUNITY, THE FIREMAN CARRIES OUT AN ESSENTIAL DUTY WHICH REQUIRES SKILL, TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, DETERMINATION AND COURAGE OF A HIGH ORDER.

+HIS ROLE IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN A CROWDED URBAN ENVIRONMENT, WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF TALL BUILDINGS SET CLOSE TOGETHER, AND A HIGH DENSITY OF POPULATION.

+TO ADD TO HIS PROBLEMS IN HONG KONG, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES, MANY CONSTITUTING A SERIOUS POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD, AND MANY STREETS ARE NARROW AND CROWDED.

+A FIREMAN'S LIFE IS A TOUGH ONE. HE IS EXPECTED TO DEAL WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF DANGERS. OFTEN, DURING HIS CAREER, HE WILL RISK SERIOUS INJURY AND EVEN DEATH.

/+HE IS