XN000022-1993-10-27 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993

GOVERNOR PRAISES FSD FOR 125 YEARS OF SERVICE

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PRAISES THE WORK OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL, SKILFUL AND COURAGEOUS MANNER IN WHICH ITS OFFICERS PROVIDE FIRE- FIGHTING SERVICE AND MEET VARIOUS CHALLENGES.

TAKING SALUTE AT THE HONG KONG FIRE SERVICES 125TH ANNIVERSARY REVIEW, MR PATTEN SAID IT WAS A SERVICE WITH A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF ITS PERFORMANCE.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD MODEST BEGINNINGS AS A FIRE BRIGADE OF 66 OFFICERS AND 100 VOLUNTEERS IN 1868 SERVING A COMMUNITY OF LESS THAN 60,000 PEOPLE.

THE SERVICE IS NOW COMPLETELY LOCALISED AND HAS MORE THAN 8,000 MEN AND WOMEN, OPERATING MORE THAN 95 FIRE STATIONS AND AMBULANCE DEPOTS.

WITH LATEST TECHINIQUES AND EQUIPMENT, THE DEPARTMENT IS PROVIDING PROMPT AND EFFECTIVE FIRE-FIGHTING AND RESCUE SERVICES IN VARIOUS DANGEROUS AND DEMANDING SITUATIONS IN THE TERRITORY, HE SAID.

"TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT ARE CONSTANTLY UPDATED. NEW FIRE STATIONS ARE BUILT TO SERVE NEW COMMUNITIES," HE ADDED.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT STAFF CHANGES HAD BEEN TAKING PLACE, WITH WOMEN BEING RECRUITED AND TRAINED NOW AS FIRE OFFICERS.

CONGRATULATING THE DEPARTMENT ON ITS ANNIVERSARY, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN LOOK TO YOU WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE PAST AND WITH CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE."

GOVT APPOINTMENTS TO STOCK EXCHANGE COUNCIL * * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD RE-APPOINTED MR THOMAS CHEN TSENG-TAO TO THE COUNCIL OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE OF HONG KONG LTD (SEHK).

"THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO APPOINTED MR JOHN CHAN CHO-CHAK, MR CARTLAND SAID. MR CHAN WILL REPLACE MR ALEX WU SHU-CHIH WHO HAS TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE COUNCIL.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE RULING COUNCIL WAS SUBSTANTIALLY REVAMPED IN LATE 1991 ΤΟ PROVIDE A BROADER REPRESENTATION FOR VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY.

IT NOW INCLUDES, INTER ALIA, 11 INDEPENDENT MEMBERS, TWO OF WHOM ARE APPOINTEES CHOSEN BY THE GOVERNOR WHILE THE REST ARE

SELECTED AND APPOINTED BY THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE TERMS OF THE TWO EXISTING GOVERNMENT APPOINTEES WILL EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, THIS YEAR.

/MR ALEX