XN000022-1978-11-17 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1978

LEI MUK SHUE FIRE STATION, AMBULANCE DEPOT OPENED

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MR. FRANCIS TIEN, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DESCRIBED THE PROVISION OF A NEW FIRE STATION AND AMBULANCE DEPOT IN KWAI CHUNG AS A FURTHER STAGE IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENTAL FACILITIES IN THIS AREA.+

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE LE! MUK SHUE FIRE STATION AND AMBULANCE DEPOT TODAY.

THESE PREMISES SERVE TO INDICATE THAT GOVERNMENT IS NOT NEGLECTING THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WHICH EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT, THAT THE SAFETY AND CONCERN OF OUR PEOPLE IS KEPT TO THE FORE AND IN TIMES OF NEED AND EMERGENCY PROPERLY TRAINED PERSONNEL AND ESSENTIAL APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT ARE READY TO PROVIDE AID AND ASSISTANCE, MR, TIEN SAID.

HE NOTED THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE UNIQUE AS THEY ARE THE FIRST COMBINED FIRE STATION AND AMBULANCE DEPOT THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND BUILT IN HONG KONG.

THE TOTAL COST OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE EQUIPMENT IS $6.2 MILLION AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE ANNUAL RECURRENT COST WILL BE $2.4 MILLION.

MR. TIEN SAID THESE COSTS SERVED TO EMPHASISE THE INCREASING FINANCIAL EXPENDITURE WHICH THE PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY SERVICES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG REQUIRED.

+WHEN WE SEE THE CONSTANTLY EXPANDING RATE OF DEVELOPMENT NOW TAKING PLACE WE CAN READILY APPRECIATE WHY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURE NOW TOTALS $140 MILLION PER ANNUM,+ MR. TIEN ADDED.

THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER (NEW TERRITORIES) MR. ALAN JONES, WHO ALSO SPOKE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY SAID THE PREMISES HAD BEEN PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICE TO THE AREA FOR ALMOST FIVE MONTHS.

+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE PREMISES HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN ENABLING FIRE APPLIANCES AND AMBULANCES TO REACH SOME LOCATIONS WITHOUT TOO MUCH DELAY, HE SAID.

DUE TO VERY SERIOUS TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS, MR. JONES NOTED, FIRE APPLIANCES AND AMBULANCES ARE STILL BEING DELAYED IN ARRIVING AT INCIDENTS WHEN HAVING TO TRAVERSE LEI MUK SHUE ROAD AND WO YI HOP ROAD DURING DAY TIME.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED: +BE ASSURED, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES AND WE SHALL MEET OUR COMMITMENT AND DUTY TO BRING AID AND COMFORT TO THE COMMUNITY.+