Financial Secretary John Tsang inspected a graduation parade of seven station officers, 15 ambulance officers, two senior firemen and a senior firewoman of the Mobilising & Communications Group, 63 firemen and 23 ambulancemen today.
Speaking at the parade, Mr Tsang said there has been great public demand for emergency services provided by the Fire Services Department.
It received more than 214,000 calls for fire services, special services and emergency ambulance services in the first quarter – an increase compared to the same period last year.
Fire services will increase more than 140 posts in 2015-16 to meet future service needs.
Mr Tsang noted that to enhance emergency ambulance services, the department is developing a computer system that will incorporate internationally accredited questioning protocol software to help Fire Services Communications Centre operators in identifying the condition of injuries and sicknesses, providing callers for emergency ambulance services with more comprehensive and appropriate advice.
He added that construction of a new Fire & Ambulance Services Academy at Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O, is underway and the project will be completed by the end of this year and is expected to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2016.
The new academy, which will be equipped with a number of advanced simulated training facilities, will provide 530 residential training places.