消防局年報 HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE Annaul Report 1955-1956

HONG KONG

ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

BY THE

CHIEF OFFICER, FIRE BRIGADE

FOR THE

FINANCIAL YEAR 1955-56

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. F. C. JENNER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.

AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS,

JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG.

CONTENTS

FIRES AND OTHER OCCURRENCES

FALSE ALARMS

CAUSES OF FIRES

CASUALTIES

FIRE RISKS

Paragraphs

7-8

10 11

STAFF

APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT

FIRE BOATS

HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY

INSPECTION BRANCH & FIRE PREVENTION

AMBULANCE SERVICE

REWARDS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

TRAINING

29 - 32

WELFARE

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

GENERAL

CONCLUSION

33 43

APPENDICES.

}

FIRES AND OTHER OCCURRENCES

　　1. The Fire Brigade responded to a total of 1,117 calls during the year under review as against 971 for the preceding year. These calls are classified as follows:

Fires:

Buildings

509

Electrical

141

Chimneys

Motor Vehicles

Grass & Shrubbery

Ships

Squatter areas

Miscellaneous

901

False Alarms:

With Good Intent

Malicious

110

1,011

Special Services:

Landslides, House Collapse,

Drowning etc.

106

Total

1,117

The estimate of monetary loss by fires is $2,235,250.10. A Graph showing the number of fire calls attended and estimated monetary losses by fire from 1st April, 1955 to 31st March, 1956 appears in Appendix I.

The number of serious fires showed a decrease; details of the more notable ones are appended below:-

14th Apr., 1955-A 2-storey building in the squatter area at Li Cheng Uk Village caught fire when a tin of kerosene was knocked over and came in contact with a lighted chatty. The fire broke out at 16.33 hours and gained a firm hold on

the building before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. As all the windows were barred, five persons who were trapped in the building were unable to make their escape, nor was the Fire Brigade able to rescue them. Three other inmates managed to escape but one of them, a female, who was severely burnt, succumbed to her injuries after admission to hospital.

1st Nov., 1955-A fire broke out on Tuesday the 1st November, 1955 in the squatter area at Fa Hui Village, Kowloon Tsai, the call being received at Kowloon Fire Station at 13.10 hours. On receipt of the call, a number of fire appliances and ambulances were rushed to the scene. There was no doubt that the fire had been burning for some time before the fire call was given to the Fire Brigade. On arrival of the first fire appliance, it was observed that the huts on both sides of the fire lane were well alight and burning furiously. Owing to the call being a late one the fire had gained a firm hold on the area and the Fire Brigade en- countered great difficulty in confining it to its original site. The fire was attacked from the most advantageous positions on the South, East and West sections and was controlled after a short period within these sections and any risk of its spreading was eliminated. The fire was brought under control at 14.09 hours. The total number of casualties record- ed was 5 dead and 16 injured. 428 squatter structures covering an area of about 350' X 900' were destroyed. The fire was caused by burning firewood falling from an unattended chatty and igniting combustible materials on the floor.

한

6th Dec., 1955-On the 6th December, 1955, a fire broke out at No. 170, Hai Tan Street, Shum Shui Po. The call was received at Kowloon Fire Station at 01.21 hours, and 2 fire appliances and 1 ambulance responded immediately. On receipt of the 3rd alarm at 01.26 hours, additional fire appliances and ambulances were despatched. On arrival of the first fire appliance, it was found that a three floored tenement house was well alight on all floors and that the roof had already caved in. The fire was brought under control at 02.04 hours. The ground floor of the premises was well stocked with firewood, charcoal, peanut oil and old motor tyres. The premises were of the old type and housed more than 70 persons. All internal con- struction, other than the rear kitchens, was of wood. There was only one staircase and this was separated from the shop by a wooden partition of approximately 7/8" timber which appeared to have been alight in the early stages of the fire and this was the main reason why the escape of all persons on the first and upper floors was cut off. The fire spread with remarkable rapidity, as was made apparent by the number of people who were cut off and trapped inside. A number of the inmates saved their lives by jumping from the front verandah before the arrival of the first fire appliance. The call was a late one and on arrival of the first fire appliance at 01.24 hours, the whole building was well alight with flames belching out from the front. The rapid destruction of the wooden staircase accounted for the heavy casualties which were recorded as 8 dead and 14 injured.

17th Dec., 1955-On the 17th December, 1955, a fire broke out at No. 283, Main Street West, Saukiwan. The call was received at 14.27 hours and the

Fire Brigade responded with 5 fire appliances, 3 ambulances and No. 2 Fire Boat. On arrival, it was found that the two upper floors of a tenement building were well alight with the flames breaking through the roof. Flames and smoke were belching out from windows at the front and rear of the building which was a 4-storeyed Chinese tenement with a Chinese restaurant on the ground floor. The fire had gained a firm hold on the two upper floors and although repeated attempts were made by the firemen to force an entry into the building, it was not possible for some time due to the extreme heat and the fact that the stair- case was filled with smoke. Fire jets were sited up the staircase to hold and confine the fire to the upper floors and the Fire Brigade was successful in this operation. After approximately 30 minutes,

minutes, the fire was brought under control and firemen entered the building and discovered 11 casualties, 5 males and 6 females, on the 3rd floor. They were quickly rescued and conveyed to Queen Mary Hospital. On arrival at the hospital, eight were certified dead. The building was an extremely old one and over 80 persons were presumed to have been living on the upper floors, which were divided into

　　　　　into wooden cubicles. The whole of the internal structure of the building was of wood. There was only one wooden staircase and as this became smoke logged with the rapid spread of the fire, it was impossible for the tenants to

escape.

Apart from the fires mentioned above, there were 25 other outbreaks of fires in squatter areas in the Colony. This is less than in previous years. There was no aircraft crash fire during the year. The Brigade was called out to 18 fires on ships, none of which were serious.

The number of Special Service Calls was much greater than in the preceding year. A disaster occurred at Tai Po Kau on the 28th August, 1955, in which a number of children and students enjoying a picnic outing lost their lives through drown- ing. This was the Colony's worst weekend holiday disaster, and claimed the lives of 28 picnickers, mostly children and students who were swept away suddenly when a cloudburst in the hills caused the stream by which they were picnicking to descend in torrent without warning. The children were mostly from the St. James Resettlement, Wanchai and the Kowloon Canton Railway Staff Club. Several other small picnic parties were in the area when the accident occurred. Many of the picnickers had taken shelter from the rain below the so-called Furious Ghost Bridge. The people sheltering under the bridge suddenly heard an ear-splitting noise and before they could escape, a solid wall of water began to roll into the stream from the cliff and swept them away. Only a few managed to escape. A call for assistance was received at 14.09 hours and two fire appliances and 3 ambulances responded. The Fire Brigade was

was in- strumental in saving two persons and recovering three bodies from the upper stretch of water and continued to search the lower reaches for further bodies. Life lines and stretchers were brought into commission down the hillside facing the sea and at the lower reaches of the stream, where some of the bodies were found. The Fire Brigade, assisted by the Police, operated at the lower reaches of the stream and began to remove dead bodies by stretchers and life lines taken over from the road way.

　　　　　　This operation was an extremely hazardous one, due to the steep gradient, slippery boulders and sections of loose rocks. The recovery of some of the bodies took as long as twenty minutes. This was an unusual type of disaster and happened so quickly that it was not possible to effect the rescue of more people as the sudden rush of water carried them away into deeper water before assistance arrived. It was also possible that fallen stones and pieces of rock had injured some of the persons. The search for bodies over a considerable distance and, in particular, the conveying of them up or down the steep and treacherous slopes was a strenuous operation and all ranks in attendance worked for several hours under very hazardous

and trying circumstances. For the prompt and efficient measures taken by them to deal with the aftermath of this disaster they were congratulated by the Colonial Secretary and the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade.

FALSE ALARMS

5. The number of false alarms was high and 82 out of 110 were malicious. Despite prompt action by the Police to apprehend the culprits there was little success.

CAUSES OF FIRES

6. Careless handling and negligent use of inflammable liquids were still by far the most common causes of fires. Children playing with matches and the indiscriminate discarding of lighted cigarette ends caused a large number of fires to break out in dwellings. Burning firewood falling from un- attended chatties and igniting combustible materials on the floor was another cause of fires. A number of fires were traceable to the negligent use of electrical appliances or to the occurrence of short circuits in unprotected and faulty wiring. A great number of fires were also caused by defective or badly made kerosene stoves and by negligent handling of such stoves when used for domestic purposes.

CASUALTIES

　　Details of casualties recorded as a result of fires and other causes (i.e. landslides, collapsed buildings, drowning, etc.) and of the number of persons rescued by the Brigade are as follows:

Fires

Death

Injured Rescued

Rescued but died after

210

Landslides, Collapsed

Buildings, Drowning

and other Causes

181

8. No serious injuries were suffered by the Brigade personnel.

FIRE RISKS

MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY

9. Fire risk in squatter areas is being gradually reduced owing to the construction of Resettlement Estates built to rehouse the squatters. Officers of the Fire Brigade continue to give regular lectures and talks to the residents of the remaining squatter areas, with the result that squatters are becoming more conscious of the danger of fire and very often outbreaks of fires in squatter areas have been checked in their initial stages, thus keeping the fire damage down to a minimum.

STAFF

10. The strength of the Brigade was altered by the addition of 34 other ranks and the abolition of one post of Sub Officer. The approved establishment of the Brigade on 31st March, 1956 was 596 officers and other ranks.

11. The establishment of expatriate officers was up to full strength but local recruitment was not up to the standard ex- pected, especially in the case of firemen. Although

Although every recruitment parade was well attended, the type of recruit attend- ing fell far below the Fire Brigade standard.

APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT

12. All fire appliances and equipment were regularly tested, overhauled and maintained in efficient and good working order by the mechanical staff of the Brigade.

13. Four Land Rover Fire Appliances and one Morris- Magirus 100' all steel Turntable Ladder Fire Appliance ordered from the United Kingdom were received. The Land Rover appliances were allocated to various sub-stations in the New Territories. With these additional appliances, better fire protection is accorded to some of the main districts in the New Territories.

14. The radio telephone net-work, consisting of 2 fixed main ground stations, 6 mobile units and 8 pack sets, was in full operation throughout the year. During the year, 2 additional mobile units and 2 pack sets were added to the equipment already installed. The system is of great advantage when working at large fires, etc. where no other means of communication is available.

FIRE BOATS

15. The Brigade has a fleet of 3 fire boats, consisting of the "Alexander Grantham" and two smaller vessels with which it was possible to cope with all fires that broke out on board ships in the harbour. These crafts were also used for relaying water for fighting fires on land where difficulty arose from water restrictions. These fire boats were regularly slipped, overhauled and maintained by the Marine Department.

HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY

16. Fire hydrants, both pedestal and ground were inspected quarterly and all defects reported to the Water Authority for repairs to be effected.

17. By the end of the year, new installations and replace- ments had brought the total number of pedestal and ground hydrants to 659 and 1,240 respectively.

18. Throughout the year, the Water Authority provided turncocks at fire stations to allow water valves to be operated during the hours when the water supply was restricted. These arrangements do not prove entirely satisfactory, as in the early stages of fire fighting water restrictions do retard operations to a certain extent.

19. As the weather was extremely dry, and in order to conserve the domestic water supply, the Brigade made every effort to utilize other available water such as sea water, nullah water, or water from static water tanks for fire fighting purposes.

　20. Salt water Pumping Stations have been established in various parts of the City of Victoria. These pumps are operated in the event of a fire for which a salt water hydrant can be used.

　21. The Static Water Tanks were regularly inspected and maintained in good conditions.

22. In view of the continued restriction of water supply, this department continued to advise owners or occupiers of buildings which had private fire service installations fed by street mains to provide roof water storage tanks. As the result of its encouragement and with co-operation of the Public Works Department many such tanks were erected. These tanks are supplied by well water, and usually have a capacity of 2,000 gallons, which ensures that water is always available for dealing with fires in the initial stages.

INSPECTION BRANCH & FIRE PREVENTION

　23. Officers attached to the Inspection Branch made a total of 8,459 inspections of premises of various descriptions during the year under review. Apart from routine inspections in connexion with the administering of various Ordinances, these inspections included goodwill visits and investigations of com- plaints of illegal storage of dangerous goods, or of obstruction to staircases or fire escape, etc.

　24. Prosecutions of offenders for infringements of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, the Miscellaneous (Timber Stores) Ordinance, and the Celluloid and Cinematograph Film Ordinance, were undertaken on 110 occasions and convictions were register- ed in all cases with fines totalling $10,115.00. In many cases, illegally stored dangerous goods were confiscated in addition to fines being imposed. A detailed Summary of inspections is shown in Appendix II.

AMBULANCE SERVICE

25. The Brigade has a fleet of 18 ambulances which operate from 7 different fire stations-i.e. Central, Eastern and Western in Hong Kong, Kowloon and Terminus in Kowloon, and Tai Po and Yuen Long in the New Territories.

26. There were 15,284 emergency calls involving 16,457 patients and 16,772 removals with 21,061 patients involved. The total mileage for both services was 308,211 for the whole period under review. Charges were made for removals and the revenue collected amounted to $36,400.00.

27. Compared with the previous year, emergency calls registered an increase of 3,387 calls received and 3,545 patients. removed whilst removals showed a decrease of 3,138 calls and 7,999 patients respectively. A detailed summary of calls received and number of patients involved is shown in Appendix III.

REWARDS TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

28. An impressive ceremony was held at Central Fire Station on Tuesday the 31st January, 1956 when four members of the public were presented with letters of appreciation and cash rewards by Mr. W. J. Gorman, the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade. The recipients were Messrs. Pak Keung, Wong Ying Li, Chan Ming and Cheng Kwan, residents of the Shaukiwan District who rendered valuable assistance in the rescue work at a fire at Nos. 295-297 Main Street West, Shaukiwan on the 9th December, 1955 before the arrival of the Police and Fire Brigade. Their assistance in the rescue work was very valuable, and without it two Chinese women might have lost their lives in the fire.

TRAINING

29. Brigade personnel received regular training which in- cluded lectures in firemanship in addition to practical drills. The initial training of recruits was undertaken by the Training School at Kowloon Fire Station and later at Central Fire Station.

30. Officers of this department attended a 10-week course. on lectures in evidence, summonses, Summary Court procedure and framing of charges given by a Police Officer at Central Fire Station. At the conclusion of the course, an examination in these subjects was conducted and the result proved extremely satis- factory.

31. The two Elementary English Classes for firemen, which commenced at the end of September, 1954, were satisfactorily concluded for the first term and 30 of the students who passed the annual examination were promoted to Class Year II.

32. The two Elementary English Classes-one Year I and one Year II-were resumed on 19th September, 1955 and 20th September, 1955 respectively at Central Fire Station. Each class consisted of 30 students who showed much enthusiasm in making an attempt to improve their knowledge of English with the hope of getting better chances for promotion in the future.

WELFARE

33. The Fire Brigade Welfare Fund, the receipts of which are principally derived from charges for services rendered to the public in the form of duties performed at theatres etc., had a most successful year. Disbursements amounted to $2,078.60 for various purposes connected with the welfare of the members of the Brigade, and the excess of income over expenditure was $11,298.40. $4,512.48 was brought forward from the previous year and the total sum deposited in Treasury as at 31st March, 1956 was therefore $15,810.88. Statement of receipts and payments covering the transactions of the fund for the period 1st April, 1955 to 31st March, 1956 and balance sheet as at 31st March, 1956 as audited by the Director of Audit are shown in Appendix IV.

34. A Station Officer was appointed departmental welfare officer. His duties consist of giving constant attention to the welfare activities of this Department.

35. Leave rosters were in operation throughout the year, which enabled the non-expatriate uniformed and other staff to make their leave arrangements many months in advance, and for each member to receive a period of vacation or casual leave according to his entitlement.

36. The canteens established for the benefit of the Fire- men and Firemen Drivers etc. at Central Fire Station and Kowloon Fire Station were well patronized during the year. The mobile canteen, already provided, attended to fires of a serious nature and provided light refreshments for the fire fighting personnel engaged. Refreshments consumed are charged to the Fire Brigade Welfare Fund.

37. Charges for Rediffusion sets installed in dormitories and mess rooms at Fire Stations are met by the Fire Brigade Welfare Fund.

38. A Station Officer was appointed as Sports Officer of the Brigade. Friendly miniature football matches were played between stations and with other Sports Club in the Colony. Members found this game most interesting.

39. The Aquatic Sports Meeting, the first of its kind in the Hong Kong Fire Brigade, was successfully held at the Chung Sing Bathing Pavilion, Kennedy Town on Sunday, the 28th August, 1955. The programme consisted of 5 events and keen competition was shown. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chief Officer, distributed to the winners prizes which were purchased from the Fire Brigade Welfare Fund.

40. Film shows were held at Fire Stations from time to time for the entertainment of members of the Brigade and their families free of charge. The projector and films were obtained on loan from the local Film Companies. The shows were well attended.

41. The billiard table donated by the Insurance Association before the War was well patronized by officers and men of the Brigade. Upkeep and maintenance are offset from the takings which are fixed at 60 cents an hour.

42. Members of the Brigade took part in launch picnics arranged by the Auxiliary Fire Service on the following dates:

26th June, 1955

27th August, 1955

10th September, 1955

Clear Water Bay.

Clear Water Bay. Cheung Chau.

A launch was hired from the Hong Kong & Yaumati Ferry Co., Ltd. for this purpose.

　　43. A Chinese New Year Children's Party, the first one ever held by the Brigade for the children of the Firemen, took place at the Auxiliary Fire Service Recreation Club Compound, Arsenal Yard, Queen's Road East, on the 14th February, 1956. At the party, variety entertainment was provided. The Chief Officer distributed picnic boxes and toys to more than 700 children of the members of the Brigade. Brigade personnel and their wives assisted in serving and looking after the children.

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

44. In October the authorized strength of the Auxiliary Fire Service was increased from 793 to 832 Officers and Men by the addition of 39 Administrative Staff Members including an Assistant Superintendent in charge of the Administration and Commissariat Section. The actual strength at the end of the year was 641, and the deficiency is partly on account of the continued policy of weeding out the inefficient and those with poor attendance. However, steps have been taken to add more efficient, well-trained and conscientious members gradually to bring the establishment up to strength. Applicants to join the service continued to be interviewed regularly and suitable candidates were carefully selected.

45. The regular weekly training under the Platoon System is now being carried out at:-

A.F.S. Training Depot, Aberdeen. (Hong Kong Division). Kowloon Fire Station. (Kowloon Division).

Sheung Shui, Saikung, Yuen Long, Cheung Chau and Tai O

Fire Stations. (New Territories).

A regular Fire Brigade Officer is appointed to each Training Centre or Fire Station to assist the Training Officer. Enthusiasm of the members in attending training, exercises and fires has been high.

46. Recruits who have completed their training and passed the necessary Passing-out Examinations are distributed to the various Platoons for the regular weekly platoon training.

47. Nine officers have been selected from Districts of both Hong Kong and Kowloon Divisions to undergo a special Pump- Operator Instructor Course.

48. In the annual Colony Civil Defence Exercise held on the 11th December, 1955, all qualified officers and men were mobilized for the whole day. The Administration Centre was located in Hong Kong. In addition, the Unit participated in the following Zonal Exercises with the Civil Aid Services with most satisfactory results:

14th April, 1955 26th May, 1955

25th October, 1955

Exercise "Excelsior".

"Swansong". "Uppercut".

49. Under arrangements made with the Secretary, Urban Services Department, the Auxiliary Fire Service Band gave the following free public performances which were well attended:

27th November, 1955 22nd January, 1956

4th March, 1956

Botanic Gardens. Victoria Park. Botanic Gardens.

50. The Auxiliary Fire Service Annual Competition Drills had to be cancelled because of the Colony's very critical water supply situation.

51. During the year under review the Auxiliary Fire Service attended and assisted the regular Fire Brigade in fire- fighting operations at the following fires: -

21st April, 1955

1st November, 1955

7th November, 1955

16th November, 1955

Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon.

Fa Hui Village, Boundary Street,

Kowloon.

Lo Fu Ngam, Grampian Road,

Kowloon.

do.

26th November, 1955

27th November, 1955 1st December, 1955

Ship Yard Street, Kowloon. Valley Road, Kowloon. Lin Fa Kung Squatter Fire,

Hong Kong.

52. An Annual Dinner for Officers and Men of both Hong Kong and Kowloon Divisions sponsored by the Auxiliary Fire Service Welfare & Recreation Club was held on 18th December, 1955.

53. Arrangements were made by the General Committee of the Auxiliary Fire Service Welfare & Recreation Club to hold a benefit Gala Premiere of the 20th Century Fox Feature "The Man Who Never Was" in Cinemascope, with the Auxiliary Fire Service Band in attendance, under the distinguished patronage of H.E. the Governor, Sir Alexander and Lady Grantham at the Roxy Theatre on Monday, 9th April, 1956, at 9.30 p.m. to raise funds for welfare work for the members of the Auxiliary Fire Service.

GENERAL

54. I append hereto the following:

I. Graph showing number of fire calls attended and

estimated monetary losses by fire.

II. Summary of Monthly Inspections.

III. Summary of Ambulance Calls attended.

IV.

Statement of Receipts and Payments of the Fire Brigade Welfare Fund and Balance Sheet.

V. Summary of existing Fire Stations and Plant.

CONCLUSION

55. In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge my appreciation of the assistance and co-operation rendered to the Brigade by other Departments and of the loyal support of all members of the staff of the Fire Brigade and Auxiliary Fire Service.

W. J. GORMAN,

Chief Officer, Fire Brigade.

Thousand

Dollars

1200

APPENDIX I

1100

1000

900

FIRE BRIGADE DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG

Number of Fire Calls attended and Estimated Monetary Losses by Fire from 1st April, 1955 to 31st March, 1956.

Calls attended

Monetary losses=

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

Calls

240

Apr May June July Aug Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Jan

Feb

Mar

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

MONTHLY SUMMARY OF INSPECTIONS

1955

APPENDIX II

1956

June

Garages

Cinemas & Theatres....

Hotels & Boarding Houses.

Factories & Workshops ...

229

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

TOTAL

120

440

747

Eating Houses &

Restaurants

Timber Yards & Storages.

152

244

127

559

Buildings

High & Low Flash

Inflammable Liquids

178

130

667

Petrol Pumps

Kerosene Stored in Shops.

166

103

120

121

Dangerous Goods in

General

283

196

136

Fireworks Storages

Schools

Fire Services Installations.

Printing Presses

Offensive Trade

Dancing Halls & Academies

Miscellaneous

121

141

200

131 131

Belegele EN

100

281

234

204

147

167

1,725

223

1,267

286

367

168

316

110

149

146

142

116

1,543

TOTAL

894

726

605

582

579

774 768

778

717 708

553

775

8,459

APPENDIX III

SUMMARY OF AMBULANCE CALLS

Number of Calls

Number of Patients

Month

Emer.

Removal Total

Emer-Removal Total

Miles Run

gency

1955

April

1,142

1,312 2,454

1,240 1,646 2.886

22,798

May

1,314

1,458

2,772

1,383

1,775 3,158

26,508

June

1,358

1,396

2,754 1,498

1,825 3,323 26,287

July

1,518

1,394

2,912 1,655

1,677 3,332 26,878

August

1,375

1,421

2,796 1,507

1,842

3,349

27,181

September

1,346

1,397

2,743 1,459

1,888

3,347 26,545

October

1,262

1,442

2,704 1,375

1,847

3,222 26,315

November

1,091

1,338 2,429 1,169

1,711

2,880 24,518

December

1,233

1,341 2,574

1,299

1,557

2,856 24,859

1956

January

1,255

1,399

2,654

1,332 1,688

3,020 24,723

February

1,204

March

1,360 2,564 1,283

1,186 1,514 2,700 1,257

1,730

1,875 3,132

3,013 24,286

27,313

TOTAL.

15,284

16,772 32,056 16,457

21,061 37,518 308,211

Emergency Cases

Removal Cases

No. of Calls

No. of Patients

No. of

No. of Calls

Patients

April, 1955- March, 1956...

15,284

16,457

16,772

21.061

April, 1954-March, 1955...

11,897

12,912

19,910

29,060

INCREASE.....

3,387

3,545

DECREASE..............

3,138

7,999

Fines....

FIRE BRIGADE WELFARE FUND

Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31st March, 1956

RECEIPTS

Firemen services.....

Illegal gratifications

Donations

Sums voted by Legislative Council.............

PAYMENTS

382.00

(a) Cash awards

APPENDIX IV

12,995.00 (b) Comforts, conveniences etc.:-

(i) Purchase of sports gear etc.

(ii) Maintenance or improvement of

playing field

(iii) Transport expenses

(iv) Grants or assistance to Fire Brigade

club, canteen or recreation rooms...

978.60

(v) Books, magazines and other

periodicals

(vi) Educational expenses

(vii) Entertainment expenses

500.00

(viii) Medical and dental expenses

(ix) Grants on death of serving Fire

Brigade members or pensioners

300.00

(x) Other suitable purposes

300.00

$ 13,377.00

(d) Purchase of securities...

Excess of receipts over payments

transferred to balance Sheet...

11,298 40

$ 13,377.00

MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY

LIABILITIES

FIRE BRIGADE WELFARE FUND

Balance Sheet as at 31st March, 1956

Value of Fund as at 1st April, 1955......... $ 4,512.48

Add. Excess of receipts over payments

for the year ended the 31st March, 1956 11,298.40

Value of Fund as at 31st March, 1956...... $ 15,810.88

APPENDIX IV-Contd.

ASSETS

Cash deposited in Treasury

$ 15,810.88

No investments are held on behalf of the Fund.

$ 15,810.88

W. J. GORMAN, Chief Officer, Fire Brigade.

17. 5. 56.

The above Accounts have been examined in accordance with Regulation 12 of the Fire Brigade (Welfare Fund) Regulations, 1954.

I have obtained all the information and explanations that I have required, and I certify, as a result of this audit, that in my opinion the Accounts are correct.

F. E. L. Carter, Director of Audit.

30. 5. 56.

HONG KONG:

Central

Eastern

STATIONS AND PLANT AT 31st MARCH, 1956

PLANT

HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE

APPENDIX V

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

Motor

Escapes Turntable

Pumps

(with Ladders

Emer-

gency Tenders

Trailer Pumps Boats

Fire

Ambu. lances

Motor

Trailer

Pumps Pumps

pumps)

Western

Shaukiwan

Aberdeen......

Aplichau

King Shan Wharf......

A.F.S. Training Depot.

Fire Boat No. 3

KOWLOON AND NEW

TERRITORIES :

NIN

TEET

ลง ค

Kowloon

Terminus.

Yuen Long.

Tai Po...... Sheung Shui Sai Kung...

Tsuen Wan............... Cheung Chau

Tai O

TOTAL..