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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1976
BIENNIAL INSPECTION OF C.A.3. MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT *******
THE BIENNIAL INSPECTION OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN DECEMBER 6 AND DECEMBER 12.
THE INSPECTION, AIMED AT PRODUCING A PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL OF THE UNIT'S ABILITY AND SUGGESTING FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS, WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE INSPECTOR OF LAND RESCUE OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, SQUADRON LEADER JOHN VERNON OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE.
DURING THIS PERIOD, A SERIES OF EXERCISES ON NAVIGATION, MOUNTAIN SEARCH AND RESCUE, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBING AND RESCUE SKILLS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY MEMBERS OF THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT IN VARIOUS HILLY AREAS IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
A REPORT ON THE UNIT'S EFFICIENCY AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARD WILL THEN BE SUBMITTED BY SQUADRON LEADER VERNON TOGETHER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IF NECESSARY.
THE C.A.S. MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS WERE FIRST ORGANISED IN 1967 WITH A NUCLEUS OF PERMANENT TRAINING STAFF FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AIR FORCE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM FROM HONG KONG.
SINCE THEN MORE AND MORE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS WERE RECRUITED AND TWO C.A.S. MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS -- ONE FOR HONG KONG ISLAND AND ONE FOR KOWLOON -- WERE INAUGURATED ON APRIL 7, 1969.
THESE TEAMS WERE FURTHER AMALGAMATED IN JANUARY 1, 1975 TO FORM A C.A.S. MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT WITH AN AUTHORISED ESTABLISHMENT OF 56 OFFICERS AND MEMBERS.
THE UNIT IS NOW BASED AT THE C.A.S. KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE IV ARGYLE STREET, AND A DETACHMENT OF EIGHT MEMBERS ARE ON STAND-BY DUTY FROM 10 A.M. TO 9.30 P.M. DURING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
ITS MEMBERS MAY BE CALLED UPON TO PERFORM ALL KINDS OF SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS IN REMOTE AND MOUNTAIN AREAS,
NOTE TO EDITORS :
AS PART OF THE BIENNIAL INSPECTION, A MOUNTAIN RESCUE DEMONSTRATION WILL BE HELD AT KOWLOON PEAK ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7.
THIS DEMONSTRATION, WHICH WILL START AT 11 A.M. AND LAST FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, WILL INCLUDE ROCK CLIMBING, PRUSIKING, ABSEILING AND CASUALTY EVACUATION BY HELICOPTER.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE DEMONSTRATION, TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE C.A.S. KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE AT 204, ARGYLE STREET (NEXT TO THE KOWLOON CITY POLICE STATION) AT 9.30 A.M.
/MR. NG
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