PUBLIC ORDER
The CAS endeavours to develop leadership potential and cultivate civic awareness among young people by recruiting boys and girls from the 12 to 16 age group for the Cadet Corps under the CAS Youth Wing. The corps has an establishment of 64 platoons. Apart from participating in recreational activities, cadets are trained in a wide variety of disciplines and skills including foot drill, light rescue, casualty handling, basic mechanical and electrical engineering, printing and book-binding, fibreglass moulding and canoe-building, carpentry and interior design. They also receive training in crowd control, countryside preservation, rock climbing, orienteering and expeditions. Those aged over 14 years are encouraged to take part in rural area patrolling, crowd control and community service.
Government Flying Service
The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined service providing flying support to departments and agencies of the HKSAR Government. It also directly supports the community by offering a 24-hour air ambulance and Search and Rescue service.
The GFS operates a fleet of 11 aircraft: six Sikorsky S-76 and three S-70 (Black Hawk) helicopters, as well as two Jetstream J-41 aeroplanes. Eight new helicopters are being procured to replace the existing fleet to further enhance the service's capabilities. During the year, the GFS flew a total of 7 799 hours in support of its clients and in training for the complex roles undertaken. The organisation is staffed by 175 disciplined and 65 general grade personnel. It is based at Chek Lap Kok where it carries out all of its maintenance work.
The GFS undertakes a wide variety of roles which include supporting the Hong Kong Police Force in law enforcement duties, assisting the Fire Services Department by water-bombing hill fires with underslung fire buckets, and assisting the Lands Department in aerial mapping and survey. In 1999, the GFS also transported 1 275 patients to hospital by helicopter, assisted in 198 Search and Rescue operations and flew approximately 16 112 government officers and official visitors in the course of their duties.
The pilot localisation scheme continues to progress well. The department now has 18 qualified local helicopter captains and nine qualified local aeroplane captains. Another two pilots are undergoing training.
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