XN000022-1982-10-05 — Page 10

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1982

MORE VOLUNTARY PATROLS TO PREVENT FIRE

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PUBLIC-SPIRITED VOLUNTEERS FROM SQUATTER AREAS AND VILLAGES HAVE TURNED OUT IN FORCE TO GUARD THEIR COMMUNITIES AGAINST FIRES BY FORMING AN ADDITIONAL 48 FIRE-WATCH PATROLS THIS YEAR.

THIS IS THE LARGEST NUMBER FORMED IN A YEAR SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE FIRE WATCH SCHEME IN FEBRUARY 1979, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO 164.

THESE NEW TEAMS WILL BE INAUGURATED BY MR R. HOLMES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE SHEUNG WAN DIVISIONAL FIRE STATION ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 8).

OF THE 48 TEAMS, 29 ARE IN URBAN AREAS AND 19 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THEY WILL BE TRAINED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON FIRE PRECAUTION AND DETECTION MEASURES AS WELL AS ON FIRE FIGHTING, AND WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH BASIC FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT.

THE SCHEME, IMPLEMENTED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, IS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION BY VILLAGERS AND RESIDENTS OF SQUATTER AREAS IN FIRE PREVENTION.

AT THE CEREMONY, THE NEW TEAMS WILL BE PRESENTED WITH SOUVENIRS BY MR HOLMES MR TONY MILLER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HOUSING MR KEITH KWOK AND MR W.K. LAM, BOTH PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND MR ARTHUR HACKER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES.

MR HOLMES WILL ALSO PRESENT PENNANTS TO LAST YEAR'S SIX OUTSTANDING FIRE WATCH TEAMS.

THE PRESENTATION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A FIRE FIGHTING DEMONSTRATION JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE DIAMOND HILL FIRE WATCH TEAM.

NOTE TO EDITORS

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE SHEUNG WAN DIVISIONAL FIRE STATION, SHEUNG WAN RECLAMATION, HONG KONG AT 2.30 PM ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 8). A SKETCH MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE STATION IS BEING TRANSMITTED OVER THE FACSIMILE NETWORK.

G.I.S. OFFICERS WILL ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.

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