Fire_Brigade_1956-1957 — Page 21

A launch was hired from the Hong Kong & Yaumati Ferry Co., Ltd. for this purpose on each occasion.

39. Social Evenings were arranged for the staff and their families on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The parties were well attended and included "entertaining" turns by various officers.

40. A children's Christmas Party was held at Central Fire Station on Boxing Day, at which Santa Claus was present.

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

41. The Auxiliary Fire Service is raised under the terms of the Essential Services Corps (Auxiliary Fire Service) Regula- tions and consists of both volunteers and conscripts. At the end of March, it had a strength of 595 men and women. Manning its own equipment and appliances, it is designed to assist the regular Fire Brigade in peacetime and emergency.

42. After completion of training and passing the requisite examinations, recruits are posted to platoons for regular weekly platoon training. Qualified firemen may thereafter join the Officers Training Class. In addition to their driving test, fire- men drivers must also undergo a Pump Operators Course.

43. Regular weekly platoon training under the supervision of a regular Fire Brigade Officer at each station was carried out during the year under review at:

Hong Kong.

A.F.S. Training Centre,

North Point

Mo Shuk Middle School,

Aberdeen

Kowloon.

Kowloon Fire Station

New Territories.

Shatin Cheung Chau Sai Kung

Sheung Shui Tai O Tai Po

Tsuen Wan

Yuen Long

44. The A.F.S. Training Centre, North Point, was officially opened on 18th October, 1956, by the Hon. Ngan Shing Kwan, O.B.E., J.P. It consists of a 3-storey building on the water- front with ample space for training, storage and garaging of appliances. It also contains facilities for qualified members of the A.F.S. to undertake overnight training at weekends, ready to assist the regular Fire Brigade at fires.

13