THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES
191
a non-military organisation which aims to provide a further outlet for the energies of young people in the Colony and so develop self- confidence and community responsibility. It has a current strength of 135 boys between the ages of 14 and 17 years.
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force has a strength of 90 volunteer members and operates three Alouette helicopters and three Auster aircraft. The main functions of the force are internal security, search and rescue, casualty evacuation, aeromedical services and the conveyance of government officers to remote areas of the Colony. The force is ready to fly seven days a week and a 24-hour emergency call service is also provided. Over 100 casualty evacuation flights were carried out during the year and sorties were also flown to assist the Marine Police locate missing yachts, vessels carrying illegal im- migrants, and to detect oil slicks in the harbour area. The aircraft have also been used to deliver weekly newspapers to remote villages in the New Territories and the outlying islands. One of the Austers, unfortunately crashed shortly after take off on August 2 and the pilot was killed, the first fatal accident sustained by the Force for 12 years.
こ
ESSENTIAL SERVICES CORPS
The Essential Services Corps comprises four autonomous services -the units of the Essential Services Corps proper, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Civil Aid Services and the Auxiliary Fire Service.
The Essential Services Corps proper consists of some 60 units which can be mobilised during severe emergencies to maintain public utilities and other essential services under circumstances in which the security of the Colony or the health of the population might be seriously endangered. Approximately half of the 11,000 strong Corps is formed from government departments and the other half from commercial organisations. Each unit is principally staffed by a re- stricted number of volunteers employed by the departments or organisations concerned. On the call-out of units, members of the Corps undertake, under a disciplinary code, special obligations in return for which they are entitled to substantial benefits appropriate to the abnormal conditions of service.
The Auxiliary Medical Service has a strength of over 5,300 volunteers, many of whom are professionally qualified in medicine