SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1982
3
CIVIL AID SERVICES A FRIEND IN NEED
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HONG KONG'S CIVIL AID SERVICES, WHICH HAS PUT IN 30 YEARS OF COMMUNITY WORK, IS NOW GEARED TO RESPOND EVEN MORE PROMPTLY TO CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE.
*WITH OUR 3 000 ADULTS AND 2 400 CADETS, WE'RE A MUCH MORE STREAMLINED OUTFIT THAN DURING OUR PEAK 'PAPER STRENGTH OF 10 000 IN EARLIER YEARS, SAID ITS CHIEF STAFF OFFICER, MR JOHN FORTUNE,
MADE UP ALMOST ENTIRELY OF VOLUNTEERS, THE CAS IS LOOKING FORWARD TO FURTHER IMPROVING ITS CAPABILITIES BY READJUSTING ITS STRUCTURE AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS AND BY STEPPING UP ITS RECRUITMENT DRIVE.
HAVING CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS FROM A CIVIL DEFENCE ORGANISATION TO ONE TRAINED MAINLY TO DEAL WITH CIVIL EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND OTHER PEACE-TIME COUNTER-DISASTER REQUIREMENTS, THE CAS WILL RESTRUCTURE ITS RESCUE UNITS TO ENABLE THEM TO REACT MORE QUICKLY TO SITUATIONS, AND TO CALL OUT MORE SPECIALIST PERSONNEL WHO HAVE TRAINED TOGETHER.
THE RESTRUCTURED RESCUE OPERATIONS WILL BE MADE UP OF AN OPERATIONS WING, A TACTICAL FORCE AND AN EMERGENCY UNIT WHICH WILL HAVE GREATER OPERATIONAL MOBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY.
+IT IS INTENDED TO CELEBRATE OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY BY OFFERING TO THE COMMUNITY AN EVEN HIGHER STANDARD OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, ASSISTING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON LAND AND SEA SAFETY AND TO FULLY ÚTILIZE OUR OPERATIONAL SKILLS FOR RESCUE WORK IN DISASTER SITUATIONS, + MR FORTUNE SAID.
TO IMPROVE ITS INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND THE COORDINATION OF ITS THREE REGIONS - HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES THE CAS WILL REARRANGE THEM INTO REGION, DISTRICT AND GROUP LEVELS OF CONTROL.
COINCIDING WITH THE REORGANISATION PROCESS, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR, THE CAS IS OFFERING AN EVER GREATER VARIETY OF GENERAL TRAINING AND SPECIALIST COURSES FOR ITS ADULT MEMBERS.
THE 81 COURSES BEING OFFERED FOR THE TRAINING YEAR 1982/83 INCLUDE JOINT EXERCISES WITH THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ON ANTI-OIL POLLUTION, WITH THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON FIRE FIGHTING AND PREVENTION, VEHICLE DRIVING, SEARCH AND RESCUE TECHNIQUES, OUTDOORSMAN SKILLS AND CAMP LIFE INSTRUCTIONS AND MANY OTHER VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSES THAT COULD BE USEFUL IN CIVILIAN LIFE.
/THE CAS .....................