XN000022-1984-03-16 — Page 3

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984.

QUEEN'S GALLANTRY MEDALS FOR FIRE OFFICERS

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TWO HONG KONG FIRE OFFICERS AND A FIREMAN HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE QUEEN'S GALLANTRY MEDAL - ONE POSTHUMOUSLY FOR THE IR RESCUE WORK DURING TYPHOON ELLEN ON SEPTEMBER 9 LAST YEAR.

AND THREE FIREMEN HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE QUEEN'S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT DURING THE SAME OPERATION,

THE POSTHUMOUS GALLANTRY MEDAL WAS AWARDED TO SENIOR STATION OFFICER CHIU SHING-CHOW, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE OPERATION. THE TWO OTHERS RECEIVING THE GALLANTRY AWARD ARE PROBATIONARY STATION OFFICER CHEUNG WAI-LEUNG, WHO LOST HIS LEFT LEG DURING THE RESCUE ACTION, AND SENIOR FIREMAN LEUNG SIU-LIN.

RECEIVING THE QUEEN'S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT ARE THREE FIREMEN MA SHUI-LUN, CHIU KWOK-YIN AND LI KEI-KIT.

THE RESCUE OPERATION TOOK PLACE AT HOI PONG VILLAGE IN MOUNT DAVIS, AND SENIOR STATION OFFICER CHIU WAS LEADING A PARTY OF OFFICERS WHO HAD RESPONDED TO REPORTS THAT A NUMBER OF WOODEN HUTS HAD COLLAPSED IN A LANDSLIDE AND THAT PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED IN THE EARTH AND DEBRIS.

DESPITE THE STRONG WINDS AND IMMINENT RISK OF FURTHER LANDSLIPS AND COLLAPSES, THE PARTY CONTINUED WITH THE RESCUE WORK AND MANAGED TO PULL OUT A 77-YEAR-OLD WOMAN.

HOWEVER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CARRY THE WOMAN TO SAFETY, OFFICER CHIU WAS SWEPT, TOGETHER WITH THE WOMAN, INTO THE SEA. HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED LATER THAT DAY, WHILE THE WOMAN'S WAS RECOVERED TWO DAYS LATER. OTHER PEOPLE BURIED IN THE LANDSLIDE WERE RESCUED BY OTHER FIREMEN.

RECIPIENTS WERE NOTIFIED OF THE AWARDS TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR FREDERICK WATSON, WHO PRESENTED THEM WITH LETTERS FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE.

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