THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1979
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CAS BEING RELEASED FROM REFUGEE DUTY
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THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, WHICH HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GOVERNMENT REFUGEE CAMPS IN KOWLOON DURING THE PAST YEAR, ARE BEING RELEASED THIS WEEK FROM DUTY IN VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CAMPS.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) THE CAS COMMISSIONER, MR. ROGER LOBO, PRAISED LOCAL EMPLOYERS FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN RELEASING THEIR WORKERS OVER THE PAST 11 MONTHS WHEN THE CAS HAVE BEEN MOBILISED FOR REFUGEE DUTY.
THE CAS WERE ACTIVATED FOR REFUGEE DUTY LAST DECEMBER ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE VESSEL HUEY FONG.
ONE OF THEIR FIRST TASKS WAS TO REPROVISION THE OLD RAF CAMP AT KAI TAK AS A TRANSIT CAMP FOR VIETNAMESE SHOULD THE REFUGEES ON THE HUEY FONG HAVE TO BE QUICKLY LANDED.
CAS' DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, MR. JOHN FORTUNE SAID THE VOLUNTEERS HAD PERFORMED THEIR OFTEN LONG AND ARDUOUS DUTY IN A HUMANITARIAN MANNER SOMETIMES UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
+NOW THAT THEY ARE RELEASED OF CAMP MANAGEMENT DUTIES THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR OTHER OPERATIONAL TASKS SUCH AS COUNTRY PARK FIRE PREVENTION AND PATROLLING, HEAVY AND LIGHT RESCUE, FIRST AID, MOUNTAIN RESCUE AND ANTI-OIL POLLUTION TRAINING, HE ADDED.
MR. FORTUNE POINTED OUT THAT EMERGENCY CALLS TO PERFORM THESE DUTIES WERE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR DURING THE DRY WINTER MONTHS WHEN LOCAL RESIDENTS TAKE TO HILL HIKING, BARBECUES AND PICNICS.
+THIS IS ALSO THE SEASON FOR COMMENCEMENT OF COMMUNITY CHEST CAMPAIGN'S WALK FOR A MILLION, IN WHICH BOTH ADULT AND CADET VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS HEAVILY ENGAGED IN HELPING THE CHEST TO ORGANISE AND CONTROL EVENTS, MR. FORTUNE SAID.
+WITH THE DRY WEATHER FAST APPROACHING, I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL BE BUSY. HOWEVER, WE NOW HAVE A BRIEF RESPITE TO ENSURE ALL OUR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ARE UP TO DATE AND CAS VOLUNTEERS ARE FULLY TRAINED AND READY TO MEET ANY EVENTUALITY,
MR. FORTUNE SAID IN REFUGEE CAMP MANAGEMENT, THEY STILL HAD A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN FEEDING REFUGEES IN THE EVENING AT SEA WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED AT THE WESTERN QUARANTINE ANCHORAGE.
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