XN000022-1982-11-21 — Page 2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1982

CHIEF SECRETARY COMMENDS ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE

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THE ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE IS EXPANDING ITS ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO MEET THE EVER GROWING DEMAND OF THE NEW TOWNS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID AT THE BRIGADE'S ANNUAL INSPECTION AND MARCH PAST TODAY (SUNDAY).

THREE MORE COMBINED ASSOCIATION TRAINING CENTRES AND BRIGADE DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN TSUEN WAN, TAI PO AND YUEN LONG BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAID.

AS GROWING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ENJOY MORE LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL PURSUITS, DEMANDS ON THE BRIGADE'S SERVICES WILL INCREASE, HE ADDED.

LAST YEAR, MEMBERS OF THE BRIGADE SPENT OVER 125 000 HOURS ON FIRST AID AND AMBULANCE DUTIES, WHICH SIR PHILIP DESCRIBED AS + +A GRAPHIC MEASURE OF THE BRIGADE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE TEXT OF SIR PHILIP'S SPEECH FOLLOWS:

+IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AS THE REVIEWING OFFICER AT THIS ANNUAL PARADE AND TO PRESENT TROPHIES AND LONG SERVICE MEDALS.

+SINCE IT STARTED ITS WORK IN HONG KONG 67 YEARS AGO, THE ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE HAS BEEN PROVIDING FIRST AID SERVICES AT ATHLETICS MEETINGS, BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS, FOOTBALL MATCHES, RACE MEETINGS, FAIRS, WALKATHONS AND AT NUMEROUS OTHER FUNCTIONS WHERE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE GATHER AS SPECTATORS OR AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS AND A RISK FACTOR EXISTS. THE BRIGADE ALSO PROVIDES A LIMITED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. APART FROM ATTACHMENTS TO FIRST AID TEAMS, THE CADET SECTION OF THE BRIGADE ALSO PLAYS AN ACTIVE PART IN A VARIETY OF PROFICIENCY AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMMES.

+A GRAPHIC MEASURE OF THE BRIGADE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY IS THAT LAST YEAR MEMBERS SPENT OVER 125 000 HOURS ON FIRST AID AND AMBULANCE DUTIES. THIS IS, INDEED, A RECORD TO BE PROUD OF. HONG KONG IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY MEN, WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO DEVOTE THE IR FREE TIME TO VOLUNTARY WORK. THE PRESENCE OF QUALIFIED FIRST AID PERSONNEL INSTILS A FEELING OF CONFIDENCE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AND IT IS A MANIFESTATION OF THAT SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WHICH REALLY IS SO CHARACTERISTIC OF HONG KONG.

+AS HONG KONG DEVELOPS AND AS INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ENJOY MORE LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL PURSUITS, THE DEMANDS ON THE SERVICES OF THE BRIGADE WILL INEVITABLY INCREASE.

+PRESENTLY, THE