Sessional_Paper_1921 — Page 51

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HONGKONG.

REPORT ON HONGKONG FIRE BRIGADE AND PROPOSALS FOR INCREASING ITS EFFICIENCY.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency

the Governor, 18th July, 1921.

No. 1921

Various criticisms have been levelled at the Hongkong Fire Brigade from time to time and more so recently as a result of an unusually large crop of fires which have had to be dealt with within the past 6 months.

I

heads

propose to deal with the whole question of the Fire service under the following

(I) The Personnel of the Brigade.

(II) The Equipment (a) on land and (b) on the water. (c) Fire Stations.

(III) The Water Supply and Water Pressure, which is the concern of the Water Authority but which very materially enters into the question of fire protection.

(IV) The Cost of the Brigade.

(I.) The Personnel.

The Fire Brigade consists at present of:

1 Superintendent, C.S.P.,

1 Assistant Superintendent, Chief Inspector,

1 Engineer, The Assistant Marine Surveyor, H.O.,

1 Assistant Engineer and Station Officer, a Professional Fireman from the

London Fire Brigade,

1 Assistant Station Officer, a Professional Fireman from the London Fire

Brigade,

a number of Motor Drivers, Fitters, Blacksmith, Carpenter, etc., as enumerated in Appendix A.

6 Foremen--4 European: 2 Chinese.

78 Firemen--37 European: 41 Chinese.

4 Interpreters Chinese.

The Floating Engines, 2 in number, have in addition 14 men in all not included in the above total, e.g., 2 Foremen (European), Engineers, Stokers and Seamen (Chinese). The Officers of the Brigade include two professional firemen both drawn from the London Fire Brigade, and 2 Foremen and 41 Firemen are Chinese professional firemen locally trained by the Assistant Engineer and Station Officer. The remaining 4 Foremen and 37 Firemen are drawn from the European Section of the Hongkong Police as are also the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent. The Engineer who is in the Government Marine Surveyor's Sub-Department acts chiefly in the capacity of Consulting Engineer to the Fire Brigade. The A.S.P. Water Police (usually the Assistant Harbour Master) is in charge of the Fire Floats. The Superintendent of the Brigade and the Assistant Superintendent (Fire Floats) receive no remuneration for their services. The duties of the Superintendent are mainly administrative.