消防局年報 HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE Annaul Report 1957-1958

HONG KONG

PRICE: $ 1.50

ANNUAL

DEPARTMENTAL

REPORTS

1957-58

CHIEF OFFICER

FIRE BRIGADE

HONG KONG

ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

BY THE

CHIEF OFFICER, FIRE BRIGADE

FOR THE

FINANCIAL YEAR 1957 - 58

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. F. C. JENNER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER AT THE Government Press, Java ROAD, HONG KONG

EXCHANGE RATES

Where dollars are quoted in this Report, they are Hong Kong dollars. The official rate for conversion to pound sterling is HK$16-£1 (HK$1=1s. 3d.). The official rate for conversion to US dollars is HK$5.714= US$1 (based on £1=US$2.80) but a more realistic, though approximate, rate based on the local fluctuating open market would be nearer HK$5.90=US$1.

CONTENTS

FIRE AND OTHER OCCURRENCES

SPECIAL SERVICES

FALSE ALARMS

Causes of FIRES

CASUALTIES

FIRE RISKS

Paragraphs

7-8

STAFF

APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT

FIRE BOATS

17 - 18

HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY

19 24

INSPECTION BRANCH AND FIRE PREVENTION

25 - 26

AMBULANCE SERVICE

27 - 29

TRAINING

30 - 31

32 40

WELFARE

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

GENERAL

APPENDICES

CONCLUSION

41 - 53

54 56

ગ

FIRE AND OTHER OCCURRENCES

A TOTAL of 1,149 calls were received and responded to by the Fire Brigade during the year under review as against 1,086 for the preceding year. Classifications of these calls are as follows:

Fires:

Buildings

Chimneys

Electrical

Grass & Shrubbery

Miscellaneous

Motor Vehicles

Ships

Small fires

198

112

374

Squatter fires

890

False Alarms:

With good intent

Malicious

563

102

Special Services:

Landslides, house collapses, drowning, etc.

157

Total

1,149

The estimate of monetary loss by fires was $929,106.42. A graph showing the number of fire calls attended and estimated monetary losses by fire from 1st April, 1957 to 31st March, 1958, appears in Appendix I.

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

4th April, 1957-

A fire broke out on the 2nd floor of No. 164, Shaukiwan Main Street, West, Hong Kong, at 10.59 hours on 4th April, 1957. All adults on the second floor were absent at work leaving infant children locked in the room. The fire was brought under control at 11.08 hours. During the inspection of the building to ascertain the cause of the fire bodies of three Chinese female infants were found in the debris.

16th May, 1957-

A fire broke out in Shek Kip Mei Village Squatter Area, Kowloon, at 17.53 hours on 16th May, 1957. Sixty wooden huts

used as dwellings, shops and small workshops with their contents were destroyed by fire. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Brigade at 18.34 hours; no casualties occurred.

13th June, 1957-

A fire broke out on the 2nd floor of No. 113, Prince Edward Road, Kowloon, a three-storey brick, stone and reinforced con- crete frame tenement with pent house and wooden structures on roof. The heat from the fire was intense due to the illegal storage of thinners, and other dangerous goods involved in the fire on the second floor, part of which was used as a hat factory. Eleven persons suffering from extensive burns were rescued by the Fire Brigade with the Fire Escape Ladders and were removed to hospital by Fire Brigade ambulances. The fire, which was a fierce one, was brought under control and extinguished by eight hose lines strategically sited at various positions around the building. One Turntable Ladder was also in use at the outbreak. The fire call was received at 03.35 hours and was brought under control at 03.57 hours. Three dead bodies, two of female adults and one of a male child, were recovered from the debris by the Fire Brigade during their search of the building. It was perfectly obvious that these three persons lost their lives before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. Two of the persons rescued by the Fire Brigade during the fire died later in hospital due to severe burns. 1st August, 1957-

At 03.02 hours on 1st August, 1957, a fire broke out in No. 6, Upper Ship Street at the junction of Un Chau/Tonkin Streets, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. The fire had gained a firm hold, began to spread very rapidly and eventually involved an area approximately 300×200 feet which consisted of single and two- storey wooden structures, timber stores, saw mills, and other small industries. The Fire Brigade responded to the call and six fire appliances, two ambulances, a radio van and a fire-boat were despatched to the scene of the outbreak. Eleven hose deliveries from four motor fire appliances and No. 2 Fire Boat were quickly brought into commission. The Fire Brigade's main efforts were directed to preventing the fire from spreading to the adjoining area consisting of new factories. The firemen encountered many difficulties in the carly stages of the fire on account of the heat originating from the timber stores which covered a wide area.

MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY |

After a strenuous battle with the fire, the firemen brought under control in two hours. Approximately 2,600 persons were rendered homeless by the fire which, if it had not been for the efforts of the Fire Brigade, could easily have developed into a very serious one involving a larger area.

6th November, 1957......

Fire broke out at No. 11, Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Seven fire appliances and No. 2 Fire Boat responded to the call and brought the fire under control within thirty minutes. The premises consisted of a four-storey tenement house of brick and wooden construction. One Chinese female, aged thirty six years, and three children, ranging from four to seven years old, were burnt to death before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. After the fire was brought under control the two upper floors and roof of No. 11, Centre Street, collapsed.

21st November, 1957-

At 21.12 hours on 21st November, 1957, the Fire Brigade received a fire call involving a number of squatter huts at Un Chau Street, near Wing Lung Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. Six fire appliances and one fire boat responded and after a fifty- minute battle with the fire brought it under control. The huts, numbering approximately 140, were used as dwellings and timber stores, and covered an area of 22,500 square feet. A number of the wooden huts were destroyed by fire. No casualties occurred.

19th December, 1957-

At 01.19 hours the Fire Brigade received a call to the Far East Oxygen and Acetylene Co., Ltd., To Kwa Wan Road, Kowloon. As the fire appliances were proceeding to the factory, a serious explosion occurred coupled with a big flash across the area. On arrival at the factory the Brigade found that the fire had gained a firm hold on the building. A large number of explosions occurred as the gas cylinders became involved in the fire; a number of these were blown many feet into the air and came down in various sections adjoining the factory area. This was a serious fire, and additional fire appliances and ambulances were rushed to the scene to fight the blaze. By strenuous work the Fire Brigade, which was operating under dangerous condi- tions due to the explosion of gas cylinders, was able to confine

the fire to its original area. In spite of the danger to the firemen by the exploding cylinders, they stuck grimly to their job and were successful in preventing further explosions from taking place in the factory. A big risk continued to exist throughout the fire-fighting operations as a large acetylene gas tank was still intact. Any undue delay on the part of the Fire Brigade in bringing the fire under control might have involved the tank and brought about an explosion and additional damage. The fire was eventually brought under control at 02.59 hours. There were no injuries or casualties resulting from this serious fire and explosion. Had the fire occurred during the day it might have resulted in a number of casualties.

27th January, 1958-

At 22.51 hours on 27th January, 1958, a violent fire and explosion occurred on the varandah of No. 362, Shanghai Street, 3rd floor, Kowloon. Three fire appliances and two ambulances responded to the call and extinguished the fire fifteen minutes later. The premises consisted of a four-storey tenement house of R.C.C. construction. The body of a Chinese female, aged five years, was found partially buried by debris and removed to the Mortuary. One other Chinese female, aged seven years, died later in hospital from the effects of severe burns. Six other casualties were removed to hospital for treatment. The explosion was caused by the inmates manufacturing fireworks.

14th February, 1958-

At 13.32 hours the Fire Brigade received a fire call to No. 428, Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. Eight fire appliances, one fire float and two ambulances responded; the fire was brought under control and extinguished thirty minutes later. The premises consisted of a six-storey tenement house of R.C.C. construction. A Chinese male, aged two years, and a Chinese female, aged three years, were burnt to death before the arrival of the Fire Brigade.

20th March, 1958-

At 14.35 hours a fire broke out in the floating squatter area on the northern foreshore of the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter, Mong Kok Tsui, Kowloon. The fire spread rapidly inshore and involved other huts along the waterfront. By the time the fire appliances arrived, the fire had gained a firm hold on the

wooden structures and was spreading rapidly. Firemen en- countered extreme difficulties in preventing the fire from involv- ing the remaining 300 huts and adjoining factories, including a rubber shoe factory, enamel factory, torchlight factory, timber stores and saw-mills, etc. The fire float was unable to get to work on account of the tide being out at the time. This fire, which could have developed into a very serious one, necessitated the attendance of seven fire appliances to bring it under control. No casualties occurred in the outbreak. An unknown number of squatter huts were destroyed by the fire.

3. Apart from the fires mentioned above, there were twenty seven other outbreaks of fire in squatter areas in the Colony. This represents slight increase over the preceding year.

SPECIAL SERVICES

4. The number of special service calls was greater than in the previous year. Some of the more serious disasters which required the services of the Brigade are mentioned below:

(1) The rainstorm during 21st - 22nd May, 1957, which totalled fifteen inches caused many landslides and flooded premises. A total of forty one emergency calls was dealt with in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories, the latter being cut off by the collapse of sections of the Castle Peak Road and the Tai Po Road. The Fire Brigade and Auxiliary Fire Service rescued many persons from landslides and the heavy floods which affected buildings, huts, etc., and Fire Appliances also pumped out a number of flooded areas.

(2) There were two typhoon occurrences during the year under review when heavy rains caused damage to properties, and a number of landslides and house collapses occurred. During the typhoons the Fire Brigade responded to many emergency calls and carried out rescue operations in various parts of the Colony. (3) At 19.44 hours on the 10th August, 1957, a call was received to an explosion caused by an aniseed oil distiller under steam pressure at No. 393, Lockhart Road, Wan Chai. The explosion did serious damage to the building; three Chinese males were seriously injured, two succumbing to their injuries after being taken to the hospital by Fire Brigade ambulance. Fire appliances

and ambulances responded to the call, but there was no out- break of fire as the result of the explosion.

FALSE ALARMS

There were 102 false alarms and thirty seven only were given with good intent. Action was always taken by the Police in attempting to apprehend those culprits who originated malicious false alarms.

CAUSES OF FIRES

6. Careless handling and negligent use of inflammable liquids were still 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 fall- ing from unattended 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 large number of fires occurred as the result of defective or badly made kerosene stoves and by the negligent handling of such stoves when used for domestic purposes.

CASUALTIES

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

Rescued but

Died Injured

Rescued

died after

Fires

113

Landslides, Collapsed Build- ings, Drowning and other

causes

167

8. No serious injuries occurred to the Fire Brigade personnel.

FIRE RISKS

9. The fire risk in squatter areas is now greatly reduced owing to the construction of Resettlement Estates. Officers of the Fire Brigade continue to visit these areas and give regular lectures and talks to the squatters with the result that they are becoming more conscious of the danger of fires and, very often, outbreaks of fire in squatter areas are now checked in their initial stages, thus keeping the fire damage down to a minimum.

H. E. the Governor inspecting firemen wearing self-contained Breathing Apparatus at Fire Brigade Headquarters, Hong Kong.

The Chief Officer opens North Point Fire Station, one of the new fire stations being built under the Fire Brigade's expansion programme.

Oxygen Cylinders involved in the fire and explosion at the Far East Oxygen and Acetylene Co. at 0119 hours on 19th December, 1957.

Fire in the floating squatter area on the northern foreshore of the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter on 20th March, 1958.

STAFF

10. The strength of the Brigade was increased by the addition of ten officers and 113 other ranks. The approved establishment of the Department on 31st March, 1958, was 768 officers and other ranks.

11. Four vacancies for officers from overseas were notified to the Crown Agents who were endeavouring to recruit trained and ex- perienced candidates. The vacancies for other ranks were filled by local recruits during the year under review and further recruitment was proceeding to fill the remaining vacancies.

12. Staff increases were approved to cope with the expansion of the Fire Brigade with its additional new fire stations and appliances.

APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT

13. All fire appliances and equipment are regularly tested, over- hauled and maintained in an efficient and good working order by the mechanical staff of the Fire Brigade in the Brigade's own Workshop.

14. Three Escape/Pump Appliances, one Land Rover replacement for No. 11 A.F.S. Appliance (damaged during the 1956 Kowloon riots), two motor cycles for the Auxiliary Fire Service, two Emergency Tender chassis for replacement, one set of G.E.C. fixed station radio equipment for the Control Centre, and ten sets of Resuscitation Units for ambulances were received from the United Kingdom and put into commission.

15. Three Escape/Pump and three Motor Pump Appliances for new Fire Stations, one set of mobile radio telephone for No. 6 Appliance, and two additional ambulance chassis have also been ordered.

16. The radio telephone network, consisting of three fixed main ground stations, thirteen mobile units and ten pack sets, was in full operation throughout the year. The system is of great advantage to the Fire Brigade when working at large fires, where no other means of communication is available.

FIRE BOATS

17. The Brigade has a fleet of three 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. The fire boats were also used for relaying water for fighting fire on land when difficulty arose from water restrictions. The fire

boats are regularly slipped, overhauled and maintained by the Marine Department.

18. A new fire boat to replace No. 2 Fire Boat is being designed, and specifications were prepared by Marine Department during the year under review.

HYDRANTS AND WATER SUPPLY

19. Fire hydrants, both pedestal and ground, were inspected quarter- ly and all defects reported to the Water Authority for repair.

20. At the end of the year, new installations and replacements had brought the total number of pedestal and ground hydrants to 863 and 1,226 respectively.

21. Throughout the year the Water Authority provided turncocks at Fire Stations to enable water valves to be operated during the hours of water restrictions.

22. Salt water hydrants proved to be extremely valuable in check- ing fires during water restriction hours. These hydrants are inspected quarterly and maintained in good working order.

23. Static water tanks are regularly inspected and maintained in good conditions.

24. In view of the continued restriction of water supply, this Department continued to advise owners and occupiers of buildings which have private fire service installations fed by street mains to provide roof water-storage tanks. As the result of this encouragement and with the 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 stage.

INSPECTION BRANCH AND FIRE PREVENTION

25. Officers attached to the Inspection Branch made a total of 7,824 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 good- will visits and investigations of complaints of illegal storage of dangerous goods, or of obstruction to staircases or fire escapes, etc.

26. Prosecutions of offenders for infringements of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, the Miscellaneous Licences (Timber Stores) Ordinance,

MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY

and the Celluloid and Cinematograph Film Ordinance were undertaken on 162 occasions and convictions were registered in all cases with fines totalling $16,955.00. In many cases illegally stored dangerous goods were confiscated in addition to fines being imposed. A detailed sum- mary of inspections is shown in Appendix II.

AMBULANCE SERVICE

27. The Brigade has a fleet of eighteen ambulances which operate from seven 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.

28. There were 16,839 emergency calls involving 18,088 patients and 20,656 removals with 26,091 patients involved. The total mileage for both services was 347,779 during the whole period under review. Charges were made for removals and the revenue collected amounted to $55,180.

29. Compared with the previous year, emergency calls registered an increase of 934 calls received and 883 patients removed, whilst removals showed an increase of 1,649 calls and 2,047 patients. A detailed sum- mary of calls received and number of patients conveyed is shown in Appendix III.

TRAINING

30. The Brigade personnel continued to receive regular training which included lectures in firemanship in addition to practical drills. The initial training of recruits was undertaken at Central Fire Station.

31. The two Elementary English Classes for Firemen one Year III and one Year IV commenced on 16th and 17th September, 1957, respectively at the Central Fire Station. The Class for Year III consisted of twenty five students and that for Year IV of twenty seven students. These will sit for their respective annual examinations in due

course.

WELFARE

32. The Fire Brigade Welfare Fund, the receipts of which were principally derived from charges for services rendered to the public in the form of duties performed at matshed theatres, etc., was well main- tained. Disbursements for various purposes amounted to $2,581.15 (including depreciation on local investment-$880.00) connected with the welfare of the members of the Brigade, and the excess of income over expenditure was $3,572.35. $21,494.09 was brought forward from

the previous year and the total sum deposited in the Treasury as at 31st March, 1958 was $11,906.44. The value of local investment was $13,160.00. A Statement of Receipts and Payments covering the trans- actions of the funds for the period 1st April, 1957 to 31st March, 1958, as audited by the Director of Audit, is shown in Appendix IV.

33. One of the Station Officers acts as departmental Welfare Officer and his dutics are to give constant attention to the welfare activities of the Brigade.

34. Leave rosters were in operation throughout the year enabling each member of the local uniformed and other staff to make his leave arrangements well in advance, and to receive a period of vacation or casual leave according to his entitlement.

35. The canteens established at Central Fire Station and Kowloon Fire Station were well patronized during the year. The mobile canteen attended at fires of a serious nature and provided light refreshments for the fire fighting personnel engaged. The refreshments consumed on such occasions are charged to the Fire Brigade Welfare Fund.

36. A Station Officer acts as Sports Officer of the Brigade. Friendly miniature football and basket-ball matches were played between stations and with other Sports Clubs in the Colony, and members showed a great interest in these games.

37. The annual swimming gala of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade was held at the Chung Sing Bathing Pavilion, Kennedy Town, on 9th September, 1957. The programme consisted of eight events. The Eastern District team annexed the championship trophy. At the conclusion of the gala, the Chief Officer presented prizes to the winners. The prizes were purchased from the Welfare Fund.

38. 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.

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

18th May, 1957

13th July, 1957

29th August, 1957

Clear Water Bay

Pui O Luk Chau

A launch was hired from the Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Co., Ltd. for these occasions.

40. Social evenings were arranged for the staff and their families on Christmas and New Year's Eve. The parties were well attended and included 'entertaining' turns by various officers.

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

41. The Auxiliary Fire Service is raised under the terms of the Essential Service Corps (Auxiliary Fire Service) Regulations. At the end of March, the strength was 606 men and women. Manning its own equipment and appliances, it is designed to assist the regular Fire Brigade in peace-time and emergency.

42. After completion of training and passing the requisite examina- tions, recruits are posted to platoons for regular weekly platoon training. Qualified firemen may thereafter join the Officers Training Class. In addition to their driving test, fireman drivers must also undergo a Pump Operator's Course.

43. Regular weekly platoon training under the supervision of a regular Fire Brigade Officer at each station was carried out during the year under review at:

Hong Kong

Kowloon

New Territories

Cheung Chau

A.F.S. Training Centre,

North Point

Kowloon Fire Station

Sha Tin

Mo Shuk Middle School,

Aberdeen

Stanley Kaifong Welfare

Association Playground

Sheung Shui

Yuen Long

Tsuen Wan

44. In addition to the regular weekly platoon training classes, a Driving Instruction Class for Land Rover and Onslow Fire Appliances was held on the following dates:

Hong Kong Division

5th June, 1957

20th November, 1957

22nd January, 1958

Kowloon Division

30th April, 1957 21st November, 1957 20th March, 1958

45. A training class for new recruits of Kowloon Division was also held at Kowloon Fire Station on 6th August, 1957.

46. Week-end Station Duty Training was carried out at the A.F.S. Training Centre, North Point, and 431 qualified members were detailed to attend during the year under review.

47. The Auxiliary Fire Service attended and assisted the regular Fire Brigade in fire fighting operations at the following fires:

16th May, 1957

1st August, 1957

17th November, 1957 .. 16th March, 1958

Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon Un Chau Street, Kowloon Old Market, Yuen Long, N.T. Cheung Chau, N.T.

48. Ninety six members of the Hong Kong Division and 117 of the Kowloon Division were called out to assist the regular Fire Brigade to deal with storm damage on 22nd May, 1957.

49. Squads of the Auxiliary Fire Service were detailed to man the Tsuen Wan Police Station with Onslow Appliance for stand-by duty on the 1st and 10th of October, 1957.

50. In the Annual Colony Civil Defence Exercise held on 1st December, 1957, all qualified officers and men were mobilized to take part in the A.F.S. whole-day exercise. In addition, communication exercises were held on 22nd August and 19th September to test the efficiency of the Control Centre personnel; evening exercises for similar tests were held on 14th and 15th November, 1957.

51. The Auxiliary Fire Service Band gave the following public performances under the auspices of the Urban Services Department:

12th April, 1957

19th May, 1957

16th June, 1957

29th December, 1957

23rd March, 1958

MacPherson Playground, Kowloon

Maple Street, Kowloon

King George V Memorial Park, Kowloon do

52. The Band also gave the following performances:

31st August, 1957

25th September, 1957

28th December, 1957

Kowloon Fire Station

Hoover Theatre for a film show at which

H. E. the Governor was present Joined the Mass Formation of Non- Military bands for the public farewell to H. E. the Governor and Lady Grantham

53. The Auxiliary Fire Service Welfare and Recreation Club held a social night on 23rd November and a Christmas Party on 28th December, 1957, both open to all members and their families and friends.

GENERAL

54. The North Point Fire Station was officially opened by the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade, on 18th March, 1958. This is the first of

the four new standard 3-bay stations being constructed to provide adequate fire cover in the Colony.

55. Local Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Associations showed a keen interest in the Fire Service. At their request, courses of lectures on firemanship and fire-fighting were given to Scouts and Guides periodi- cally at Central and Eastern Fire Stations. Each course, consisting of a series of lectures, was well attended and the students were most attentive. On completion of the courses, tests were held and the majority of the students passed satisfactorily.

56. By the enactment of the Education (Amendment) Ordinance, 1958, a new section 10A was added to the Education Ordinance, 1952, requiring that an application for registration of a school which is to be operated in premises not designed and constructed for the purposes of a school shall be accompanied, inter alia, by a certificate from the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade, that the use of the premises for this purpose would not give rise to any undue risk of fire or danger from panic in the event of fire.

APPENDICES

57. I append hereto the following:

I. A graph showing the number of fire calls attended and

estimated monetary losses by fire.

II.

A summary of Monthly Inspections.

III. A summary of Ambulance calls attended.

IV. The Balance Sheet of the Fire Brigade Welfare Fund;

Receipts and Payments Account; Statement of Local Investments; and Statement of Outstanding Loans.

V. A summary of existing Fire Stations and Plant.

CONCLUSION

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

28th June, 1958.

W. J. GORMAN, O.B.E., B.E.M., M.I. FIRE E., A.F.I.C.D., Chief Officer, Fire Brigade.

The

Dollars

200

180

FIRE BRIGADE DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG

Number of Fire Calls attended and Es- timated Monetary Losses by Fire from 1st April, 1957 to 31st March, 1958.

160

140

120

Calls attended

Monetary losses

APPENDIX I

Calls

200

180

160

140

120

100

Apr. May Jun.

Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

MONTHLY SUMMARY OF INSPECTIONS

1957

July

August

September

October

November

December

1958

Garages

CAD

Cinemas and Theatres

Hotels and Boarding Houses...

Factories and Workshops

3222

25 109

སg།

412

609

Eating Houses and

Restaurants

423

***

Timber Yards and Storages

112

182

128

711

Buildings

High & Low Flash

Inflammable Liquids

110

353

Petrol Pumps...

193

Kerosene stored in shops

242

216

126

212

1,118

Dangerous Goods in general.

225

193

932

Offensive Trade

Fireworks Storages

Neon Signs

87 120

100

116

118

1,006

Miscellaneous ...

147

138

116

1,137

Schools

313

Dancing Halls and Academies..

200

Fire Service Installations

138

Printing Presses

137

TOTAL...

953

893 622

630

692

654

595

553

489

597

376

770 7,824

January

February

March

APPENDIX II

TOTAL

黢

SUMMARY OF AMBULANCE CALLS

APPENDIX III

No. of Calls

No. of Patients

Month

Emer-

Removal Total

gency

Emer-

gency

Miles run

Removal Total

1957

April

1,385

1,921

3,306

1,486 2,326 3,812 28,593

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

1,363

1,693

3,056

1,501 2,128

3,629 28,661

1,485

1,580

3,065

1,591

1,914

3,505 27,704

1,619

1,682

3,301

1,751

2,179

3,930 30,546

1,592

1,730

3,322

1,730 2,233

3,963

31,381

1,445

1,601

3,046

1,610

2,176 3,786 28,622

1,339

1,744

3,083

1,278

1,758 3,036

1,410 2,218 3,628 29,425

1,355 2,221 3,576 28,918

December

1,359

1,746

3,105

1,446 2,117

3,563 28,923

1958

January

February

March...

1,303 1,766 3,069 1,388

1.269

1,402

2,221

1,695 2,964 1,358 2,145

1,740 3,142 1,462 2,213

3,609

28,579

3,503

26,569

3,675 29,858

TOTAL

16,839 20,656 37,495 18,088

26,091

44,179 347,779

Emergency Cases

Removal Cases

No. of Calls

No. of Patients

No. of Calls

No. of Patients

April, 1957 - March, 1958

16,839

18,088

20,656

26,091

April, 1956 - March, 1957

15,905

17,205

19,007

24,044

INCREASE...

934

883

1,649

2,047

FIRE BRIGADE WELFARE FUND

Balance Sheet as at 31st March, 1958

LIABILITIES

ASSETS

Value of Fund as at 1st April, 1957

21,494.09

Cash deposited in Treasury

Add excess of receipts over payments

...

3,572.35

Local investment at cost

Less depreciation

Outstanding loans ...

$25.066.44

APPENDIX IV

11,906.44

$14,596.40

1.436.40

13.160.00

$25,066.44

(Sd.) W. J. Gorman,

Chief Officer, Fire Brigade. 18.6.58.

The above Balance Sheet, with the accompanying Statements of Receipts and Payments, Local Investments, and Outstanding Loans has 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.

(Sd.) W. H. WILLIAMS,

AUDIT DEPARTMENT,

Hong Kong, 8th August, 1958.

Acting Director of Audit.

APPENDIX IV-Contd.

FIRE BRIGADE WELFARE FUND

Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1958

PAYMENTS

(a) Cash awards

(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...

$29.85

RECEIPTS

Fines

Firemen's services ...

205.00

5,458.50

Interest on local investment

Less Tax...

$560.00

70.00

490.00

(v) Books, magazines and other periodicals

(vi) Educational expenses

(vii) Entertainment expenses

(viii) Medical and dental expenses

(ix) Grants on death of serving Fire

Brigade members or pensioners

200.00

(x) Other suitable purposes

971.30

Depreciation on local investment

880.00

Balance being excess of receipts over payments..

3,572.35

$6,153.50

(Sd.) W. J. Gorman,

Chief Officer, Fire Brigade. 18.6.58.

$6,153.50

י!

APPENDIX IV-Contd.

FIRE BRIGADE WELFARE FUND

Statement of Local Investments as at 31st March, 1958

Stocks

Nominal value

Middle market price at 31.3.58

Market

Book

value

Apprecia- tion

Deprecia- tion

Hong Kong Govern-

ment 34% Rehabi-

litation Loan

1973/78

16,000

82.25

13,160.00

14,040.00

(Sd.) W. J. GORMAN,

Chief Officer, Fire Brigade. 18.6.58.

FIRE BRIGADE WELFARE FUND

Statement of Outstanding Loans as at 31st March, 1958

880.00

Outstanding loans as at 1st April, 1957...

$280.00

Loans made for period 1st April, 1957 to 31st March, 1958

Re-payment of loans for period 1st April, 1957 to 31st March, 1958

280.00

Outstanding loans as at 31.3.58...

(Sd.) W. J. GORMAN,

Chief Officer, Fire Brigade. 18.6.58.

HONG KONG:

Central

Eastern

Western

STATIONS AND PLANT AT 31ST MARCH, 1958

PLANT

APPENDIX V

HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

Motor Motor Escapes Pumps (with

pumps)!

Turn- table Ladders

Rescue Foam Trailer Fire Tender Tender Pumps Boats

Ambu- Hose Radio Canteen Motor Trailer Motor Land lances Lorry Van Van Pumps Pumps Cycle Rover

North Point

Aberdeen

King Shan Wharf

A.F.S. Training Centre Fire Boat No. 3

Cheung Chau

Tai O...

KOWLOON AND NEW

TERRITORIES:

Kowloon

212

Terminus

Tsuen Wan

Yuen Long

Sheung Shui ...

Tai Po

Sha Tin

Sai Kung

TOTAL