XN000022-1993-03-23 — Page 6

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1993

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FIRE SERVICES TO RECRUIT WOMEN OFFICERS NEXT MONTH

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THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL START RECRUITING FEMALE STATION OFFICERS TO PERFORM OPERATIONAL DUTIES FROM APRIL 1, THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER (HEADQUARTERS), MR TSANG KWONG-YU, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S SECOND RECRUITING CENTRE, MR TSANG DESCRIBED THE NEW ARRANGEMENT AS A "BREAKTHROUGH" IN THE DEPARTMENT'S 125-YEAR-OLD HISTORY.

"THE REASONS FOR ALLOWING FEMALES TO UNDERTAKE FIRE-FIGHTING AND RESCUE WORK ARE TO GIVE THEM AN 'EQUAL' CHANCE FOR THE JOB AND TO HELP ALLEVIATE OUR RECRUITMENT DIFFICULTY, HE EXPLAINED.

MEASURE

WOULD NOT AFFECT

HE ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT THE NEW THE QUALITY OF SERVICE BECAUSE FEMALE OFFICERS HAD TO MEET THE ACADEMIC AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS SIMILAR TO THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, INCLUDING A 26-WEEK INITIAL TRAINING AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED AT ALL FIRE STATIONS, FIRE SERVICES RECRUITING CENTRES AND ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

MR TSANG POINTED OUT THAT THE FIRE SERVICES HAD BEEN EXPANDING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CONTINUOUS INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWING NUMBER OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS.

PUBLICISE THE

"THOUGH THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE EVERY EFFORT TO RECRUITMENT MESSAGE THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA, WE STILL CANNOT RECRUIT SUFFICIENT QUALIFIED OFFICERS, HE SAID.

TT

"THIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE STRINGENT CANDIDATES SHOULD HAVE GOOD EYESIGHT WITHOUT WEARING ADDED.

REQUIREMENT THAT SPECTACLES, HE

THE NEW RECRUITING CENTRE IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ON THE MEZZANINE FLOOR OF MIDDLE ROAD MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING IN THE BUSY TSIM SHA TSUI AREA.

ITS OPENING HOURS ARE: 10 AM TO 6 PM FROM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS, AND 9 AM TO 5 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. IT WILL BE CLOSED ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AND CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

MR TSANG SAID THE NEW CENTRE WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL AVENUE FOR PEOPLE WISHING TO JOIN THE SERVICE.

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