XN000022-1981-12-02 — Page 8

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EDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1981

CAS MEN WHO TRAIN HARD TO RESCUE OTHERS

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FVERY TIME MR CHOW KA-PO PUTS ON HIS GEAR IN RESPONSE TO A CALL TO DUTY, HE LAYS HIS LIFE ON THE LINE.

LAST WEEK HE DID THAT ON THREE OCCASIONS.

NO, HE IS A DRUG FIGHTER, OR A DETECTIVE OR A FIREMAN.

AND THE MOST LETHAL EQUIPMENT HE CARRIES IS A CLASP KNIFE.

HE IS A SENIOR OFFICER, OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES' MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT. WHOSE WORK HAS OFTEN MEANT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR PEOPLE IN DISTRESS IN MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS.

FORMATION OF THE UNIT BEGAN IN JANUARY 1967 WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED IT WAS NECESSARY TO FILL THE GAP LEFT BY THE DISBANDMENT OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM.

UNDER THE OVERALL CO-ORDINATION OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE, TWO MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS WERE FORMED WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF SEARCHING FOR AND RESCUING LOST HIKERS, INJURED CLIMBERS AND VICTIMS OF AIR CRASHES IN REMOTE AREAS.

THE TEAMS WERE AMALGAMATED ON JANUARY 1, 1975 TO FORM THE CAS MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT WHICH NOW HAS A FULL COMPLEMENT OF 65 OFFICERS AND MEMBERS.

ADMISSION TO THE UNIT REQUIRES A LOT MORE THAN FITNESS AND A FONDNESS FOR THE SPORT OF MOUNTAINEER ING.

AS MR JOHN FORTUNE, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND CHIEF STAFF OFFICER OF CAS, EXPLAINED: +YOU MUST NOT ONLY BE FIT, YOU MUST ALSO BE A GOOD" MOUNTAINEER, CLIMBER AND HAVE FIRST AID KNOWLEDGE. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT A CRACK MOUNTAIN CLIMBER IS FIT AND HAS MANY ATTRIBUTES BUT THAT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE HIM A GOOD RESCUER, THERE ARE MANY OTHER SKILLS TO MASTER.+

A CANDIDATE FOR THE MRU MUST HAVE FIRST SERVED A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS IN THE CAS, PASSED A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND A FITNESS TEST WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE ABILITY TO WALK OVER HILLS IN SCORCHING SUMMER TEMPERATURES WITH A HEAVY LOAD OF EQUIPMENT ON HIS BACK, HE MUST ALSO POSSESS A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST AID AND THE TECHNIQUES OF SURVIVAL IN HARSH ENVIRONMENT. IF HE PASSES AN INTERVIEW, HE WILL THEN BE PUT THROUGH A FIVE-DAY, FULL-TIME COURSE ON BASIC MOUNTAIN CRAFT, ROCK CLIMBING AND MOUNTAIN RESCUE TECHNIQUES UNDER THE EXPERT ADVICE AND INSTRUCTION OF RAF AND CAS MOUNTAIN RESCUE INSTRUCTORS.

UPON ACCEPTANCE, MOUNTAIN RESCUERS HAVE TO UNDERGO A CONTINUAL SERIES OF STRENUOUS PRACTICAL TRAINING SESSIONS, TWICE A MONTH, ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS, IN ROCK-CLIMBING, ROPE MANAGEMENT, BELAYING, STRETCHER-HANDLING AND LOWERING OVER SHEER ROCK FACES AND OVERHANGING CLIFFS, MOUNTAIN FIRST AID, AREA FAMILIARISATION, ORIENTEERING, COMMUNICATIONS, NIGHT NAVIGATION AND BIVOUACING.

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