XN000022-1980-01-09 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1980

$300 000 DONATION TO FIRE SERVICES WELFARE FUND

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A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, MR. PETER LEUNG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DONATED $300 000 TO THE FIRE SERVICES WELFARE FUND TO BE USED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF WIDOWS AND DEPENDANTS OF FIRE OFFICERS AND FIREMEN KILLED ON DUTY.

AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD TODAY AT THE FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS IN NORTH POINT, MR. LEUNG PRESENTED A CHEQUE FOR $300 000 TO THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. M.K. LANE.

+LAST NOVEMBER, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES SET UP A SPECIAL FUND WITHIN THE WELFARE FUND TO ASSIST WIDOWS AND DEPENDANTS OF MEMBERS KILLED IN ACTION, SAID A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN.

+THE $300 000 WILL BE PLACED IN THE ACCOUNT OF THIS SPECIAL FUND AND THE INTERESTS EARNED WILL BE USED TO PAY WIDOWS OR DEPENDANTS A MONTHLY GRANT TO SUBSIDISE THEIR OTHER INCOME, + HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY MR. LEUNG RECALLED THE INCIDENT LAST SEPTEMBER IN WHICH A SENIOR FIREMAN LOST HIS LIFE AS A RESULT OF INJURIES AND BURNS SUFFERED WHILE FIGHTING A FIRE

IN A DANGEROUS GOODS STORE IN LAI CHI KOK.

+HIS COURAGE AND TRAGIC DEATH STRUCK A SYMPATHETIC CHORD AMONG THE PUBLIC WHO DONATED VARIOUS SUMS IN RESPONSE,+ SAID MR. LEUNG.

ON THE DEATH OF ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE SERVICE WHO WAS KILLED LAST WEEK WHILE RACING TO RESCUE A DRIVER IN A CAR ACCIDENT, MR. LEUNG SAID +THIS SAD CASE RECEIVED LITTLE PUBLICITY BUT THE CONSEQUENCES TO THE WIDOW AND CHILDREN ARE EQUALLY DISTRESSING AND SERIOUS AS IN THE FIRST CASE.+

+THEREFORE,+ HE SAID, +1 ASKED THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES TO DEVOTE MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE BENEFIT OF THE DÉPENDANTS OF THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE FIRE SERVICES - THOSE WHO QUIETLY GIVE THEIR LIVES IN THE PURSUIT OF THEIR PROFESSION.+

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+AND IN PARTICULAR, I WISHED TO MAKE A FITTING GESTURE TO RECOGNISE THE MANY HAZARDS FACED BY HONG KONG'S 5 000 FIRE OFFICERS AND MEN IN GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY DUTIES, MR. LEUNG ADDED.

MR. LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE REPORTED MONETARY LOSSES FROM THE RAVAGES OF FIRE IN 1978 AMOUNTED TO $113.1 MILLION AND HE ANTICIPATED THAT THE LOSSES IN 1979 WOULD BE EVEN GREATER.

+THIS IS A VERY HIGH LOSS IN REAL TERMS AND EVEN DISCOUNTING THE HUMAN SUFFERING AND DEPRIVATION WHICH ALSO RESULTED FROM THOSE SAME FIRES AND THE MUCH HIGHER VALUE OF PROPERTY AT RISK, THIS IS TOO HIGH A PRICE, SAID MR. LEUNG.

HE URGED ALL MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS OF THE FIRE RISK IN THEIR OWN SURROUNDINGS AND CO-OPERATE WITH THE FIRE SERVICES.

FINALLY, HE CALLED ON MANAGEMENT OF FACTORIES AND OFFICES TO TRY THEIR BEST TO MINIMISE THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE IN THEIR BUILDINGS AND NOT TO USE THEIR COMMON AREAS AND STAIRCASES FOR THE STORAGE OF COMBUSTIBLE GOODS OR WORK PROCESSES BECAUSE SUCH ANTI-SOCIAL ACTS WOULD RESTRICT OR OBSTRUCT THE DESIGNED EXITS IN THE EVENT OF FIRE AND ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THEIR WORKERS AND THEMSELVES.

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