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About 15,000 visitors attended the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy (FASA) Open Day today (April 10). The construction works for the Academy, located at Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, commenced in 2012 and were completed in late 2015. The academy was formally opened on March 16 this year. The FASA Open Day was one of the highlight events of the "Appreciate Hong Kong" territory-wide public participation campaign.
The Open Day offered a rich variety of activities including a fire appliance and ambulance parade as well as various firefighting and rescue demonstrations. In addition, there were displays of training facilities, Fire Services Department (FSD) equipment and special vehicles, an exhibition on fire safety education and game booths as well as a recruitment information corner.
The Commandant of the FASA, Mr Ngai Tak-yung, said that Hong Kong has a well-trained and well-equipped emergency fire brigade and ambulance service. He expressed the hope that the Open Day would enhance the public's understanding of the work and professional training of the FSD, so that they would fully appreciate Hong Kong as a highly efficient, safe and vibrant city.
Covering an area of 158,000 square metres, the Academy offers 526 residential training places. The FASA not only provides comprehensive foundation and continuous training for both newly recruited and serving fire and ambulance personnel but also professional firefighting, rescue and ambulance courses for other government departments, private organisations and Mainland and overseas counterparts.
The diversified and advanced simulation training facilities of the Academy help to enhance FSD personnel's professional knowledge and rescue techniques in handling incidents involving railway, tunnel, vessel, aircraft and fuel facilities. The specialised training facilities for high-angle rescue, urban search and rescue, compartment fire behaviour training and handling of hazardous materials strengthens FSD personnel's capability in tackling large-scale incidents. Fire and ambulance personnel will have more opportunities to be trained together, hence improving their response and co-ordination capability in emergencies.
Ends/Sunday, April 10, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:21
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