XN000022-1980-10-02 — Page 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1980

SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 77 TEAMS HAS BEEN FORMED AND THIS, CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, MR ANTHONY CONWAY SAID AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY TODAY, İLLUSTRATES A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST AMONG THE PEOPLE DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

THE FUNCTION OF THE TEAMS IS THREE-FOLD. THEY KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR FIRE HAZARDS THEY HELP TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF FIRE RISKS AMONG LOCAL RESIDENTS THROUGH PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES- AND THEY ENSURE PROMPT REPORTING OF FIRES TO THE REGULAR FIRE FIGHTERS.

MR CONWAY POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENCE OF THESE TEAMS, PARTICULARLY IN THE LARGER SQUATTER AREAS, HAD HELPED IN ENSURING THAT DETECTION OF A FIRE IS RELAYED EARLY TO THE FIRE SERVICES. THIS KEEPS FIRE LOSSES DOWN.

+ALL INFORMATION FROM THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS INDICATES THAT THE AIMS OF THE FIRE WATCH SCHEME ARE BEING MET, HE SAID.

IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE NEW PATROL MEMBERS, MR CONWAY SAID: +THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE ON A FIRE WATCH TEAM IS VERY COMMENDABLE INDEED, AS THIS PARTICULAR SCHEME IS CONSIDERED TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN BRINGING HOME TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THE NEED FOR VIGILANCE AND GOOD FIRE PREVENTION.

+ FEEL SURE THAT YOUR EFFORTS OVER THE NEXT YEARS AND IN PARTICULAR OVER THE DRY AUTUMN AND WINTER MONTHS ALMOST UPON US, WILL GREATLY ASSIST IN KEEPING FIRE LOSSES AND DAMAGE TO A MINIMAL.+

MR CONWAY LATER JOINED THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MISS ELLE SHUM, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR ARTHUR HACKER, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (COMMUNITY AFFAIRS) OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR ALASDAIR SINCLAIR, IN PRESENTING SOUVENIR PLAQUES TO THE NEW TEAMS.

TODAY'S CEREMONY AT TSIM SHA TSUI FIRE STATION WAS ATTENDED BY SOME 200 GUESTS AND 60 COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB MEMBERS FROM THREE SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHO WERE VISITING THE STATION AS PART OF THE IR EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

FOLLOWING A FIRE FIGHTING DEMONSTRATION BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE GUESTS WERE TREATED TO A SPECIAL MOBILE STREET THEATRE PERFORMANCE ILLUSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD FIRE PREVENTION.

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