Fire_Services_1965-1966 — Page 8

5. The figures in para. 4(iii) above for March include an estimated $5,153,520 fire loss sustained at a fire at the Chung Kiu Emporium, Nathan Road, Kowloon on 14th-15th March, 1966; this figure may require adjustment when the insurance companies have completed their

assessments.

6. Assuming there will be no significant adjustment of estimated fire loss at the Chung Kiu Emporium, the direct financial loss for the year was $11.4 m. against $9.7 m. for the previous year.

7. Based on a population of 4 million (rounded) the per capita fire loss in Hong Kong rose from $2.77 in 1964-65 to $2.86 for the year under review. This, nevertheless, still compares very favourably with the British fire losses for approximately the same period and for an estimated population of 54 million which was $22.61 per capita.

8. Of the total fire loss, industrial fires accounted for $3.5 m., an almost 50% reduction on the previous year and, of course, another $5.1 m. of direct loss is accountable to the Chung Kiu Emporium fire.

9. Fire and ambulance calls excluding the Airport Contingent during the year amounted to 68,458 at which 193 members of the public died, 778 members of the public were injured, 1,266 persons were rescued from places of peril and 44 members of the Service sustained injuries.

10. Whilst a number of members of the Service sustained serious injuries during operations, none of these were of a permanently in- capacitating nature. Most regrettably however, one fireman, Mr. NGAI Yu-chuen, sustained fatal injuries during a training exercise when a hose line he was holding broke free of control and flung him to the ground. An inquest into this accident was held at Western Magistracy on 8th February, 1966 at the conclusion of which a verdict of death by misadventure was returned.

11. With the whole-hearted co-operation of the G.I.S. and all radio and press agencies an intensive publicity campaign was mounted to inculcate the public in the dangers of firecrackers at Chinese New Year, and the 1966 celebrations showed a pleasing decrease in outbreaks of fire attributable to firecrackers. There are, however, no grounds for complacency for whilst the publicity campaign doubtless contributed to reducing outbreaks of fire during this festival, the greatest single deterrent was the humid weather.

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