ENG-1996 — Page 385

PUBLIC ORDER

The department is building two new fireboats. One fireboat will replace the existing Fireboat No. 3 in 1997 and the other is to provide a new service to protect the River Trade Terminal in Tuen Mun Area 38 in 1998.

Staff Training

The Fire Services Training School and the Ambulance Command Training School organise a 26-week initial training for new recruits. For recruit firemen, this covers basic firefighting techniques, appliances and equipment, breathing apparatus, ambulance aid and physical training. Subjects such as fire protection, legislation, physics and the science of combustion are also included. In addition to the basic firefighting and rescue techniques, courses for recruit Station Officers cover incident command-and-control elements.

The Fire Services Training School gave 951 staff of other government departments and private organisations training on basic fire-fighting and the use of breathing apparatus. The Ambulance Command Training School also offers refresher and advanced training to all ambulance personnel.

In-service training was provided to 2 386 fire and 993 ambulance personnel, while 26 officers were selected to attend various overseas training programmes in the UK, the USA, Japan, Canada, Germany and China. The department recruited and appointed 21 station officers and 172 firemen during the year.

Buildings and Quarters

In line with government policy to provide an emergency response to all areas within minimum set times according to the category of risk, the department continues to plan and build fire stations and ambulance depots at strategic locations to cope with local developments.

During the year, Tung Lo Wan Fire Station, Peng Chau Fire Station and Central Fireboat Station were put into use. Construction has started at North Lantau Island. of Chek Lap Kok Sub-divisional Fire Station and Tung Chung Fire Station with ambulance facilities. Sham Tseng Fire Station and Ambulance Depot and Lam Tin Ambulance Depot are also under construction and scheduled for completion in 1997.

The department manages 3 862 quarters, of which 3 586 are for other ranks uniformed officers. Work completed during the year included 482 new quarters at Ngau Chi Wan, 27 at Muk Lun Street Disciplined Services Married Quarters, and conversion and refurbishment of existing Fire Services Married Quarters at Fat Kwong Street and North Point.

Public Liaison Group

The Public Liaison Group was set up in 1994 to encourage public participation in monitoring and improving the delivery of emergency fire services. It helps to foster better understanding between the public and the department. Since the department completed the transfer of non-emergency ambulance services to the Hospital Authority, the group also monitored the delivery of emergency ambulance services, starting from its third term in April 1996. Thirty members of the public from all walks of life were randomly selected from among 142 applicants to form the group's third-term membership.

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