XN000022-1978-04-14 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN

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FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN ARE REQUIRED TO BE PATIENT, FIRM, COMPASSIONATE AND SYMPATHETIC EVEN THOUGH ON OCCASIONS THEY MAY BE ABUSED, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR.. FRED WATSON SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 99 FIREMEN AND 30 AMBULANCEMEN AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL IN PAT HEUNG, THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. WATSON SAID THIS IS BECAUSE +OTHER PEOPLE'S MISFORTUNES ARE OUR BUSINESS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK OR INJURED OR HAVE LOST THEIR HOME OR CHILD THROUGH FIRE OR OTHER CALAMITY ARE UNDER A GREAT STRAIN AND USUALLY EXCITED AND GRIEF STRICKEN.+

HE SAID: +YOU WILL ENTER PEOPLE'S HOMES OR WORK PLACES AS STRANGERS AND YOU MUST NEVER ABUSE, OR ALLOW OTHERS TO ABUSE, THAT PRIVILEGE.+

+OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND PROPERTY ARE SACRED AND IT IS YOUR DUTY TO DO ALL IN YOUR POWER TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THEIR OWNERS.+

MR. WATSON ALSO TOLD THE MEN ON PARADE THAT THEY ARE JOINING AN EMERGENCY SERVICE WHERE DISCIPLINE IS ESSENTIAL.

+BY YOUR DISCIPLINE, SKILL AND BEHAVIOUR YOU ARE JUDGED BY THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.

+NO MATTER WHAT THE PROVOCATION ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BRING THE SERVICE OR YOURSELVES INTO DISREPUTE,+ HE ADDED.

THE PARADE WAS THE 28TH HELD AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL.

ALSO TAKING PART IN THE PARADE WERE 22 ASSISTANT STATION OFFICERS, 60 FIREMEN AND 27 AMBULANCEMEN WHO ARE STILL UNDER TRAINING AT THE SCHOOL.

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