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The ground-breaking ceremony of the new Fire Services Training School (FSTS) was held at Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, today (December 5). It marks the start of the construction stage of the redevelopment project and an important milestone in the development of training in the Fire Services Department (FSD).
Officiating at the ceremony were the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok; the Director of Fire Services, Mr Chan Chor-kam; and the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Leung Koon-kee.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Lam said the existing Fire Services Training School in Pat Heung had been in use for over 40 years since its opening in 1968. Although additional training facilities had been provided over the years, the space and the facilities were insufficient to meet the department's training needs. There was a need to build a new school to better equip trainees with fire-fighting and rescue techniques to achieve high efficiency in operations, she said.
"The existing training school has built up valuable knowledge in training. With the FSD's experience in handling major incidents in recent years, coupled with the new FSTS' simulation training facilities, the new school will definitely enhance the expertise of rescue personnel. The quality training of our elite fire fighters and ambulance staff will help them offer the best services to the public and make Hong Kong a safer place to live and work," Mrs Lam said.
Mr Chan said the new FSTS will provide fire and ambulance personnel, who often work closely in emergencies, with more opportunities to train together, thereby enhancing their co-ordination and capability in responding to disasters. He also thanked Mrs Lam for her support for the project during her tenure as the Secretary for Development.
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The new FSTS, covering an area of 158,000 square metres and costing an estimated $3.5 billion, is scheduled for completion in October 2015. There will be outdoor and indoor simulation training facilities for various complex and large-scale emergency scenarios to better equip fire services trainees with fire-fighting and rescue techniques.
The simulators mainly cover seven types of emergency incidents related to buildings, transport, marine and water, gas, aircraft, hazardous materials and structural collapse. The new FSTS will also provide a driving training block with a driving training ground to offer driving theory courses and practical driving training for fire services vehicles.
The new FSTS will have a fire services education centre to promote and disseminate knowledge of fire protection, fire evacuation and first aid. The education centre will have interactive and multimedia facilities and experiential areas such as fire evacuation and fire-fighting simulation areas. A display area will also be set up to introduce the FSD's history and exhibit fire services uniforms from different periods and fire service installations, equipment and tools.
Ends/Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:20
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