XN000022-1979-03-18 — Page 8

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SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1979

CAS TAKES LEAD IN CONTROLLING MOUNTAIN RESCUE

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JUST HOW GOOD IS OUR CIVIL AID SERVICES' MOUNTAIN RESCUE

TEAMS?

IN THE WORDS OF SQUADRON LEADER JOHN VERNON, INSPECTOR OF LAND RESCUE FROM THE BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ■ +THE CAS MRT

IS NOW WELL ESTABLISHED AND HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN CONTROLLING MOUNTAIN RESCUE.+

SQUADRON LEADER VERNON'S COMMENT CAME AFTER HE INSPECTED A SERIES OF EXERCISES CARRIED OUT BY THE UNIT IN VARIOUS HILLY AND COUNTRYSIDE AREAS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG BETWEEN NOVEMBER 20 AND 25 LAST YEAR.

+THROUGHOUT THE VISIT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE TEAM IS GAINING A MORE INDEPENDENT, SELF-RELIANT APPROACH TO RESCUE. THIS IS APPARENTLY GENERATED BY THE PERSONNEL WHO HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, HE ADDED.

DURING HIS BIENNIAL INSPECTION, WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE ANNUAL CAS MRT TRAINING COURSE, SQUADRON LEADER VERNON SAW THE TEAMS CONDUCT CROSS-COUNTRY EXPEDITIONS, NIGHT NAVIGATION, MOUNTAIN SEARCH AND RESCUE AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF MOUNTAIN" AND CLIFF RESCUE TECHNIQUES.

THESE TOOK PART ON HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, INCLUDING LANTAU ISLAND.

ON THE EXERCISE AS A WHOLE, SQUADRON LEADER VERNON SAID THE UNIT HAD EXHIBITED A GOOD STANDARD OF TRAINING AND FITNESS, ADDING THAT TEAM WORK AND INDIVIDUAL SKILLS WERE ALSO OF A HIGH STANDARD.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS A GENERAL AIR OF SELF-CONFIDENCE AND THE TEAM IS NOW IN A POSITION WHERE IT IS ABLE TO VET THE SKILLS OF MOUNTAINEERS WHO MAY BE CALLED UPON TO ASSIST THEM IN ANY MAJOR OPERATION.+

IN HIS REPORT, SQUADRON LEADER VERNON SAID THAT ONLY IN ONE AREA HAD ACTION NOT BEEN COMPLETED RADIO COMMUNICATIONS.

*THE PROBLEM OF POOR RADIO SERVICEABILITY HAS HAMPERED THE TEAMS FOR SOME YEARS AND IT WILL ONLY BE OVERCOME WITH THE ISSUE OF IMPROVED EQUIPMENT, HE SAID.

COMMENTING ON THIS, MR. JOHN FORTUNE, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, CAS, AGREED WITH SQUADRON LEADER VERNON THAT IT WAS REGRETTABLE THAT THE TEAM WAS STILL USING THE PYE BANTAM RADIOS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF CRITICISM IN THE LAST REPORT.

+THE RADIOS WE ARE LOOKING FOR MUST BE WEATHER-PROOF AND STRONGLY-CONSTRUCTED AND IN FACT DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE APPROACHED FIVE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS TO LOOK FOR A SUITABLE TYPE,+ HE EXPLAINED.

/THE LONG