PUBLIC ORDER
308
Service Training
The CAS provides full-time and part-time training to its volunteers to equip and prepare them for their operational tasks. The training covers counter-disaster skills, fire-fighting, anti-oil pollution, flood rescue, radiological protection, cardio- pulmonary resuscitation and conventional rescue instruction.
In 1996, 192 full-time courses and 92 part-time courses were conducted. During the year, the CAS continued to send its permanent staff and volunteers overseas for mountain rescue and disaster management training.
Vietnamese Migrant Duties
The CAS has been involved in refugee management since 1975. During 1996, it continued to manage the New Horizons Vietnamese Refugee Departure Centre (for Vietnamese refugees accepted for resettlement overseas) and the Kai Tak Vietnamese Migrant Transit Centre (for Vietnamese migrants awaiting voluntary repatriation to Vietnam, and pregnant Vietnamese women and their accompanying relatives from other detention centres). The CAS deployed 100 volunteers and 13 permanent staff to manage these centres on a daily basis.
Mountain Safety Education
Based on the recommendations of the Inter-departmental Investigation Team after the fatal Pat Sin Leng fire on February 10, 1996, the CAS expanded its role to help promote public awareness of mountain safety by conducting training courses on mountain/hiking safety for organised groups, school teachers, and hiking group leaders. It also provided basic mountain rescue training for members of the emergency services.
Cadet Corps
The Cadet Corps is under the CAS Youth Wing. In 1996, it established a new girl cadet unit in New Territories East, making an overall total of 23 all-male units, six all-female units and three mixed units of boys and girls.
Cadets are recruited from the 12-15 age group, and are provided with recreational activities and a wide range of discipline and skills training including foot drill, casualty handling, light rescue, basic mechanical and electrical engineering, canoe- building and fibreglass moulding, printing and book-binding, carpentry and interior design. They are also trained in countryside preservation, crowd control, rock climbing, orienteering and expeditions. Cadets over 14 years old are encouraged to perform rural area patrolling, crowd control and community services.
Government Flying Service
The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a full-time disciplined service, operating in accordance with civil aviation rules. It provides flying services in support of various government departments and agencies as well as a round-the-clock emergency air ambulance and search-and-rescue services.
The GFS currently operates 11 aircraft: two twin-engined Beech Super King Airs, six Sikorsky S-76 helicopters and three Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk helicopters. In 1996, more than 7 642 hours were flown and 1 426 requests for emergency medical evacuation and rescue were received. Altogether, 113 search-and-rescue operations