XN000022-1982-06-24 — Page 2

THURSDAL, JUNE 24, 1982

NEW HONG KONG FIRE SERVICES COMPLEX OPENED

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TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN A HIGHLY-INDUSTRIALISED COMMUNITY LIKE HONG KONG REQUIRES ULTRA-MODERN METHODS OF FIRE PROTECTION, FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE FIGHTING, THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF NEW TERRITORIES FIRE COMMAND, MR FRED JACKSON SAID THIS MORNING (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING BEFORE A LARGE GATHERING AT THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG, ISLANDS AND MARINE FIRE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS AND SHEUNG WAN DIVISIONAL FIRE STATION, MR JACKSON SAID THE NEW COMPLEX WAS PART OF THE FIRE SERVICES OVERALL MODERNISATION POLICY TO MEET THE DEMANDS NOT ONLY OF THE 1980'S AND 1990'S, BUT WELL INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

+ITS ENLARGED AND UP-TO-DATE FACILITIES WILL ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT TYPE OF INSTRUCTION BOTH TECHNICAL AND PRACTICAL CAN BE GIVEN IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE A HIGHLY-TRAINED PROFESSIONAL BODY OF OFFICERS AND MEN READY AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE TO DEAL WITH ANY EMERGENCY.

+1 AM AWARE THAT FOR MANY YEARS AHEAD THE DEPARTMENT'S PERSONNEL WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE FIRE DEFENCES OF HONG KONG AS HAVE THEIR PREDECESSORS FOR OVER 100 YEARS, + HE SAID.

THE NEW $10-MILLION COMPLEX REPLACES THE CENTRAL FIRE BRIGADE STATION BUILT ALMOST 56 YEARS AGO.

IN HIS WELCOMING ADDRESS, THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF HONG KONG FIRE COMMAND, MR M. KINGDOM SAID THAT THE SHEUNG WAN FIRE STATION WAS COMMISSIONED AND HAS BEEN FULLY OPERATIONAL SINCE NOVEMBER.

+SHEUNG WAN FIRE STATION TOGETHER WITH ITS SISTER STATION AT GARDEN ROAD HAS NOW ASSUMED THE ROLE OF FIRE DEFENCE AND OTHER EMERGENCY CONTINGENCIES FOR THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL AND THE IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING AREA, WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDERTAKEN BY CENTRAL FIRE STATION, + MR KINGDOM SAID.

+ IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME TO ONLY BRIEFLY MENTION CENTRAL FIRE STATION, FOR WHEREAS IT NO LONGER HOUSES FIRE APPLIANCES, IT IS AT PRESENT UTILISED AS THE AMBULANCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS AND AS AN AMBULANCE DEPOT.

+ IN SOME 56 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, THIS NOW GRAND OLD LADY OF FIRE ESTABLISHMENTS HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY WELL WITH COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS HAVING BEEN RESPONDED TO BY THE PERSONNEL AND THE APPLIANCES SHE HAS HOUSED OVER THAT PERIOD.

+I SPEAK FOR MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WHEN I SAY WE SHALL BE SOMEWHAT SADDENED WHEN SHE EVENTUALLY FALLS VICTIM TO T-2 DEMOLISHER'S HAMMER.+

LATER MR JACKSON ACCOMPANIED BY MR KINGDOM AND THE DISTRICT COMMANDER OF CENTRAL DISTRICT, ACTING SENIOR DIVISIONAL OFFICER JACK MORAN, UNVEILED A PLAQUE TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE NEW COMPLEX.