ENG-1983 — Page 249

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PUBLIC ORDER

handled - representing an average of 832 calls every 24 hours. This was an increase of 9.8 per cent in the number of calls compared with the total for 1982.

Appliances and Workshops

To enable fire fighting and rescue operations to be conducted in the most efficient manner, the Fire Services Department is equipped with nearly 700 operational fire appliances, ambulances and vehicles fitted with modern fire-fighting and rescue equipment.

In 1983, 62 new or replacement appliances and units of various kinds were brought into service. Among the major appliances commissioned were 16 16-metre hydraulic platforms, three 37-metre turntable ladders, one major pump, one light pump, 21 light rescue units and two breathing apparatus. To maintain its fleet of fire appliances and rescue equipment, the department operates three workshops located on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories.

Staff Training

All recruits except those in the specialist communications ranks of senior firemen (control) and firewomen (control) are trained at the Fire Services Training School at Pat Heung in the New Territories. The courses vary in content and last from eight to 26 weeks. The training of senior firemen (control) and firewomen (control) is conducted at the Fire Services Communication Centre in Kowloon by instructors from the training school. During the year, 238 officers successfully completed standard training: 61 station officers, 165 firemen and 219 ambulancemen.

The school also conducted fire protection courses for senior station officers and station officers; refresher courses for ambulance personnel; and basic courses on fire fighting, fighting fires on ships and on the use breathing apparatus for government departments and private organisations in Hong Kong and for the Macau Fire Brigade. Some 3 500 people attended these courses during the year. The Driving Training School conducted courses for 1 062 officers and other ranks.

Establishment and Recruitment

The uniformed establishment of the Fire Services Department at the end of 1983 totalled 5 702. The number of civilian staff employed by the department increased to 561. Recruitment exercises resulted in the appointment of 37 officers and 270 firemen and ambulancemen. A continuous year-round recruitment campaign attracted more than 820 applications for officer posts and some 290 for firemen posts. Standards required for both grades are high and on average only about five per cent of all applicants are accepted for appointment.