XN000022-1978-08-18 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1978

C.A.S. - A DISCIPLINED, SKILLED AND WILLING FORCE

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THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. FRED WATSON, TODAY PRAISED THE CIVIL AID SERVICES AS A +DISCIPLINED, SKILLED AND WILLING FORCE→ THAT MAY BE CALLED UPON IN TIMES OF NEED.

THIS IS MOST REASSURING TO THE REGULAR EMERGENCY SERVICES, HE SAID AT THE CIVIL AID SERVICES' 16TH RECRUITS PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.

ADDRESSING A PARADE OF 180 RECRUITS -- THE LARGEST TO BE HELD →→ MR. WATSON SAID: +MEMBERS OF MY SERVICES HAVE, OVER THE YEARS, DEVELOPED GREAT RESPECT FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THIS RESPECT WAS DEVELOPED BY WORKING ALONGSIDE OF EACH OTHER AT NUMEROUS INCIDENTS.+

HE NOTED THAT TODAY THE CIVIL AID SERVICES MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS, MADE UP OF SKILLED AND ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS, ARE AVAILABLE AT SHORT NOTICE AND HAVE ALMOST COMPLETELY RELIEVED THE FIRE SERVICES FROM THIS DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT DUTY.

FURTHERMORE, IT HAS PROVED ITS WORTH BY PROVIDING PATROLS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AREAS AT WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND ESSENTIAL REINFORCEMENTS IN LARGE SCALE COUNTRYSIDE FIRE FIGHTING.

+IN ADDITION TO THESE DUTIES WHICH SO CLOSELY AFFECT MY SERVICES YOU ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN MANY OTHER IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CROWD CONTROL, ANTI-OIL POLLUTION DUTIES AND FIRST AID, HE NOTED.

HOWEVER, MR. WATSON TOLD THE GRADUATES: +IN RETURN FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF DANGER AND DISTRESS, THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL ALSO OFFER YOU A GREAT DEAL.

+ IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SKILLS WHICH WILL BE OF REAL VALUE, TO PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND BE PART OF AN ENTHUSIASTIC TEAM OF PUBLIC SPIRITED MEN AND WOMEN AND SHARE IN THE COMRADESHIP WHICH EXISTS IN SERVICES SUCH AS OURS, HE ADDED.

DURING THE CEREMONY, MR. WATSON ALSO PRESENTED SPECIAL CERTIFICATES TO FOUR MOST OUTSTANDING RECRUITS AND CIVIL DEFENCE LONG SERVICE MEDALS TO 17 OFFICERS AND MEMBERS ON COMPLETING 15 YEARS OF EFFICIENT SERVICE.

THE C.A.S. BAND WAS IN ATTENDANCE THROUGHOUT THE CEREMONY.

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