XN000022-1983-09-10 — Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1983

GOVERNOR PRAISES EMERGENCY SERVICES

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (SATURDAY) EXPRESSED ADMIRATION AND THANKS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THEIR WORK DURING THE PASSAGE OF TYPHOON ELLEN.

SPEAKING TO NEWSMEN AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AFTER VISITING FIRE SERVICES OFFICERS WHO WERE HURT WHILE ENGAGED IN RESCUE WORK YESTERDAY, SIR EDWARD SAID THEIR INJURIES BROUGHT HOME TO US WHAT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DO.

WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS TOLD TO STAY AT HOME, THE EMERGENCY SERVICES HAVE TO BE OUT AND ABOUT DEALING WITH INCIDENTS AS THEY OCCUR, HE SAID, AND I THINK THEY ALL RESPONDED MAGNIFICENTLY THIS TIME.

SIR EDWARD PAID SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVERY OF SENIOR STATION OFFICER, CHIU SHING-CHAU WHO LOST HIS LIFE WHILE RESCUING AN OLD WOMAN AT MOUNT DAVIS VILLAGE.

+1 WOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES, PARTICULARLY TO MRS CHIU, FOR THE VERY BRAVE SACRIFICE HER HUSBAND MADE AND I AM SURE IN DOING THAT, I WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD HAD EARLIER VISITED FOUR FIRE SERVICES PERSONNEL WHO ARE RECUPERATING FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED AT MOUNT DAVIS YESTERDAY. A FIFTH FIREMAN WAS STILL IN THE OPERATING ROOM.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR F.S. LAM, AND THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER (HONG KONG, MARINE AND OUTLYING ISLANDS), MR JOHN BREDBURY.

+1 WANTED TO COME DOWN PERSONALLY AND EXPRESS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY OUR ADMIRATION FOR THE FIRE SERVICES, AND INDEED ALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES, FOR WHAT THEY DID YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE DURING THE STORM,+ HE TOLD NEWSMEN LATER.

+I WISH THEM ALL WELL AND A SPEEDY RECOVERY, HE ADDED.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHETHER THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HAS GIVEN ADEQUATE WARNINGS ABOUT THE STORM, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE DID NOT KNOW OF ANY BASIS FOR A SUGGESTION THAT THEY WERE NOT DOING THEIR UTMOST TO GIVE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THE BEST WARNING THEY COULD.

+I THINK THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY DID THE BEST THEY CAN IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THEY WERE ISSUING WEATHER BULLETINS USING ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM,+ HE SAID.

EARLIER IN THE MORNING, SIR EDWARD, ACCOMPANIED BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MARINE. MR PETER CHAN TOOK AN HOUR-LONG HELICOPTER TOUR OF THE TERRITORY TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE STORM.

+THE MAIN