XN000022-1985-10-04 — Page 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1985

AMS PRAISED FOR HELPFUL WORK

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THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES HAS MADE AND IS MAKING AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TONIGHT (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE AMS OFFICERS' MESS DINNER, SIR DAVID SAID FROM EXPERIENCE HE REMEMBERED VERY WELL THE USEFUL PRESENCE OF THE AUXILIARIES WHEREVER THE PUBLIC NEEDED HELP AND ASSISTANCE.

THE AMS, HE SAID, WAS IN THE FRONT LINE IN EMERGENCIES, GIVING VALUABLE ASSISTANCE AND HAD HELPED AT REFUGEE CAMPS AND AT DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES.

+OF COURSE WE HOPE WE WILL NOT NEED MEDICAL HELP BUT THE FACT THAT HELP IS AT HAND ENABLES OUR COUNTRY PARKS, OUR BEACHES AND MANY OTHER FACILITIES TO BE ENJOYED AND OUR PUBLIC EVENTS TO TAKE PLACE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF SAFETY AND SUPPORT, SIR DAVID POINTED OUT.

+WE SHALL NEED YOUR SERVICES IN THE FUTURE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST.+

SIR DAVID SAID HE KNEW THAT THE SAME SPIRIT WOULD CARRY THE AMS FORWARD WITH THE SAME EFFICIENT DEVOTION TO DUTY, CARING FOR THE PEOPLE THEY SERVED AND WITH GOOD HUMOUR.

+THAT THIS IS SO IS A SOURCE OF GREAT REASSURANCE TO THE PUBLIC YOU SERVE, HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD FOLLOW WITH GREAT INTEREST THE AMS ACTIVITIES AND WISHED THEM SUCCESS.

IN HIS WELCOMING ADDRESS, THE AMS COMMISSIONER, DR K.L. THONG SAID THAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT AMS OFFICERS HAD THE CHANCE OF MEETING SIR DAVID IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHIEF SECRETARY +IN A RELAXED AND CONGENIAL SURROUNDING.+

SINCE THE AMS WAS SET UP 35 YEARS AGO, IT HAD PROGRESSED BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP - GROWING FROM 1 200 MEMBERS TO ALMOST 6 000,- BUT ALSO IN ITS ACTIVITIES.

IN THE 12 MONTHS UP TILL APRIL, THE FORCE HAD SPENT 90 896 MAN-HOURS PROVIDING FIRST AID COVERAGE AT PUBLIC FUNCTIONS AND COUNTRY PARKS.

ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND SUNDAYS, 27 840 MAN-HOURS WERE SPENT ON MANNING OF AMBULANCES WITH THE FIRE SERVICES AND 7 956 MAN- HOURS WERE SPENT BY MEMBERS AS DRIVERS OF AMBULANCES DURING HOLIDAYS AND SUNDAYS, AS WELL AS FOR EMBERGENCIES DURING NORMAL WORKING DAYS.

/IN ADDITION,