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THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES
duties and other civic duties such as helping to organise charity walks and campaigns, and assisting in crowd control at major events.
The two main training centres of the Civil Aid Services are situated on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. They have simulated smoke rooms, facilities for practising rescues from confined spaces, and towers for practising rescues from heights. The 20-hectare training camp at Tsing Lung Tau, in the New Territories, incorporates the old village of Yuen Tun which dates back over 250 years. It was completely rebuilt with genuine old village furniture and farming equipment. Within the camp are facilities for all forms of training. An oriental garden, constructed by the volunteers as a rest garden, was officially opened by Lady Youde, wife of the Governor, in October.
A new Cadet Training Centre in the old Sham Shui Po army camp was opened in July. Training within the Cadet Corps is designed in such a way that it is progressive and cadets entering at the age of 12 to 14 progress through a series of useful and beneficial studies. The cadets are encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. In 1985, 10 cadets qualified for Gold Awards, 40 for Silver Awards and 160 for Bronze Awards.
Auxiliary Medical Services
The Auxiliary Medical Services was formed in 1950 with a view to augmenting the emergency services of the Medical and Health Department and those of the Ambulance Service of the Fire Services Department.
Members come from various walks of life, including many from the medical, nursing and para-medical professions. In 1985, the establishment was 5 835 volunteers and 63 permanent staff. Sub-units are established throughout the territory.
During the year, besides being ready for duty in the event of tropical cyclones, members were deployed in hospitals and clinics, with regular ambulances at weekends, in country parks for providing ambulance and first aid coverage, on public beaches for reinforcing the regular lifeguard services, and at first aid posts while major public functions and celebrations were in progress. They also assisted in manning 24 methadone treatment clinics for drug abusers, including day and evening clinics.
Another duty was manning a medical post established for Vietnamese refugees at a reception centre in Argyle Street, Kowloon. In addition, the permanent staff continued to give first aid training to government officers, especially those in the disciplined services.