XN000022-1980-06-27 — Page 15

IS

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN —SUPPLEMENT

ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL 5-233191

SPEECH BY H.E. THE GOVERNOR AT THE CIVIL AID SERVICES COMBINED OFFICERS AND MEMBERS DINNER ON JUNE 27, 1980

Mr Commissioner, Ladies and Gentlemen:

First of all I thank you for your hospitality, and at only sorry that I

had to miss it last year.

As your Commissioner has said, you have had a busy year, I appreciate the notable and dedicated service you, as volunteers, have rendered to the

community.

Last year the sudden influx of over 70 000 Vietnamese refugees faced Hong Kong with an emergency of major proportions. You assisted by helping to set up and manage a large camp, by delivering food to refugee boats at anchorages, and by arranging special operations to move people and stores. You responded magnificently to the challenge which was outside your normal duties.

At the same time you continued to train and act in your traditional roles in natural disasters, rescue, maintain hill fire-fighting, crowd control it, you did it.

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you name

I am glad to note your expansion in the New Territories and your plans for the new towns. I am also pleased to see that the Cadet Corps has continued to make progress and I wish you as much success in the Water Activity Centre as you have had with Yuen Tun Camp.

Hong Kong owes much to its volunteer disciplined services. They are larger, better trained, have more enthusiasm, and are deployed more regularly than in any of the countries I have served in. Amongst this notable company of brother and sister organisetions, the Civil Aid Services can hold its head high, to the great credit of the Commissioner, the Chief Staff Officer, and all ranks of the

Service.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I ask you all to raise your glasses and drink a

toast with me to the Civil Aid Services.