ENG-1965 — Page 200

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PUBLIC ORDER

expanded to meet the growing technical sophistication of industry. A measure of the service's awareness of the need for higher tech- nical studies may be seen from the fact that the Hong Kong branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers is one of the largest in the Commonwealth with over 100 members, associate members, graduates and students.

During the year the service was regrouped as follows: Fire Service Headquarters (containing specialist echelons of workshops, transport, supplies and technical staff), Mainland Command (consisting of Kowloon, New Kowloon, the New Territories and including the airport fire contingent), Hong Kong Command (taking in the whole of Hong Kong Island and all waters and islands of the Colony), and the Fire Prevention Bureau. The effect of this regrouping is that the two main geographical areas of the Colony are protected by their own independent and largely self- supporting fire brigades working to a common policy and standards set by Fire Service headquarters.

The year was also notable in terms of international public rela- tions. In co-operation with the Government Information Services, the Commerce and Industry Department and the Hong Kong Government London Office, the Fire Service took part in the International Fire Conference and Exhibition at Olympia, London. Reports indicated that the Hong Kong stand was one of the out- standing exhibits and that the Fire Service's delegation (which included both overseas and local officers) created a most favourable impression in dealing with the, hundreds of visitors to the stand, and also made a valuable contribution during the many discussions and lectures at the conference.

The professional element of the Fire Service is supported by an Auxiliary Fire Service consisting of some 793 volunteers who attend at a fire station several times a week for training and who are called upon as reinforcements during major fires and emergencies.

THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE

The Preventive Service of the Commerce and Industry Department is a disciplined force responsible for the anti-smuggling measures which are needed to protect the revenue derived from the five items which are dutiable in Hong Kong. It is also responsible for the