No_3_1956 — Page 45

NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION & BRIGADE

Architects: Messrs. Leigh & Orange

Reproduction of the architects' impression of the building.

as

The new Central Headquarters The following is summarized from Jones as Vice-Chairman, and the St. John building is necessitated by the fact the "History of The St. John Am- Ambulance Brigade (Hong Kong District), that the existing building at Tai bulance Brigade in Hong Kong" by with Mr. Kenneth Fung Ping Fan Hang Road is no longer adequate Dr. F. I. Tseung, C. St. J. (A), J.P., Commissioner and Dr. F. I. Tseung as for the needs of the St. John Am- M.B., B.S.. F.R.S.A.. Deputy Commis- Deputy Commissioner. bulance Association and Brigade. sioner.

The St. John Ambulance Brigade in More rooms are needed for offices and for lectures, and more space is

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE Hong Kong was started on a small scale in 1915, during World War I. At that required for stores and for

The Order of St. John is the supreine time, the European community in Hong bers' mess. All these requirements governing body of the

whole St. John Kong was greatly diminished owing to will be met by the new Central Head- organisation. Her Majesty the Queen is the departure of men for active service

mem

-

quarters building: it will have nine its Sovereign Head, and H.R.H. the

Hong new

Under the Order are three foundations,

in the Great War, and the formation of

one

in

uniform

lecture rooms, one floor for offices. Duke of Gloucester is its Grand Prior. the Brigade was considered necessary one floor for the officers' mess (there The Order of St. John is represented in case of emergency as the Colony had no by making available to the mem- Hong Kong by the St. John Council of first aid facilities. Mr. E. R. Ralphs was bers' mess the present officers' mess which H.E. the Governor is the President the first Assistant Commissioner in charge. at Tai Hang Road) and many times and Mr. F. S. Coote is the Chairman. There were then only 100 men and 12 the space now available at Tai Hang

nurses, whose equipment and Road for stores. The Tai Hang Road building will become the Bri- namely, the St. John Ophthalmic Hos- were generously donated by Mr. Ho Kom gade's

of the original promoters of Headquarters for the

pital in Jerusalem, the St. John Ambu Tong, Kong Island Area, while the

lance Association and the St John Am the Brigade. bulance Brigade. The Association is re- building will become the Headquar- ters of the St. John Ambulance AS- tion of people in first aid and home nurs- in 1884 and inaugurated in 1900, it was, Although the St. John Ambulance As- sponsible for the instruction and examina- sociation was first started in Hong Kong sociation and Brigade for the whole

ing and kindred subjects, while of the Colony.

Brigade is a uniformed body of trained without any clear distinction. It will not in fact, the St. John Brigade in practice

be surprising, therefore, that much of the work Association, will be described here under which normally belonged to the

the Brigade.

a

and few inen

women recruited from

the

those

At the outset. perhaps words about the St. John set-up qualified in first aid and home nursing who will not be out of place, because, to will put their acquired knowledge to prac the layman, it is often confusing tice whenever and wherever needed. Here what are the Order of St. John, the in Hong Kong we have a St. John Am- St. John Ambulance Association and bulance Association Centre, with Dr. the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Arthur Woo as Chairman and Mr. J. R.

In 1930, Mr. Ralphs retired, leaving behind a contingent of 250 strong to his

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CARPARK