XN000022-1982-04-25 — Page 6

SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 1982

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ITS HEROIC EXPLOITS IN LIFE AND PROPERTY-SAVING OPERATIONS WERE TO BE REPEATED IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS IN OTHER NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS.

RECRUITMENT INTO THE CAS WAS RAPID AND AS CONSCRIPTION WAS STILL IN FORCE IN THE EARLY YEARS, THE SERVICE QUICKLY ATTAINED A STRENGTH OF 10 000 PERSONS WHO COULD BE MOBILISED FOR RELIEF OPERATIONS IN DISASTERS AND FOR WAR-TIME OPERATIONS.

IN 1958, WITH THE TERMINATION OF COMPULSORY SERVICE, THE CAS BECAME A TRULY VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

THE FUTURE TASKS OF THE CAS WERE THEN BROADLY GROUPED INTO THREE MAIN FUNCTIONS CIVIL DEFENCE IN WAR-TIME, AN EMERGENCY ORGANISATION DURING A PERIOD OF ECONOMIC UNREST BUT NOT ACCOMPANIED BY CIVIL DISTURBANCE, AND A COUNTER-DISASTER ORGANISATION IN PEACE-TIME, THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL DEFENCE DIMINISHED UNTIL 1963 WHEN TRAINING FOR THIS ROLE WAS STOPPED ALTOGETHER.

IN RECENT YEARS, IN FACT, CAS PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN PREOCCUPIED MOSTLY WITH MAINTAINING ORDER IN MASSIVE PUBLIC GATHERINGS, RESCUING PEOPLE IN DISTRESS, OFTEN AT CONSIDERABLE RISK TO THEMSELVES. AND SUPERVISING THE REGISTRATION AND FEEDING OF THE HOMELESS FROM DISASTERS, INCLUDING THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN TRANSIT CAMPS.

AS THE GOVERNOR SUMMED UP HIS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO THE CAS ON THE OCCASION OF ITS SILVER JUBILEE, IN ALL THESE WAYS, THE CAS HELPS TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER AND SAFER PLACE TO LIVE.+

THE MOST RECENT REVIEW OF THE TASKS THAT THE CAS SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERTAKE WAS COMPLETED IN LATE 1975, RESULTING IN THE ISSUANCE OF OPERATION ORDER NO. 1.

UNDER THIS ORDER, THE CAS'S TASKS INCLUDE CROWD AND TRAFFIC CONTROL AT PROCESSIONS AND PUBLIC FUNCTIONS WHICH ATTRACT LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THE RESCUE OF PEOPLE TRAPPED IN COLLAPSED BUILDINGS, CRASHED VEHICLES OR BURIED IN LANDSLIDES THE EVACUATION OF PEOPLE FROM DANGEROUS OR THREATENED BUILDINGS- THE RECOVERY OF CASUALTIES FROM DISASTER SITES AND THEIR TRANSPORTATION TO AMBULANCE LOADING POINTS RECONNAISSANCE PATROLS AND CLEARANCE OF ROADWAYS CORDONING OFF DISASTER AREAS AND ASSISTING IN THE DIVERSION AND CONTROL OF TRAFFIC AND THE REGISTRATION, CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF VICTIMS MADE HOMELESS BY DISASTERS. OTHER TASKS INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY RELIEF PREVENTION AND FIGHTING OF FOREST FIRES- ASSISTING WITH CONTAINMENT OF OIL POLLUTION AT SEA AND MANY OTHER SUPPORTIVE ROLES IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

SOME CAS UNITS, NOTABLY ITS MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT AND HEAVY RESCUE UNIT, CAN BE FULLY MOBILISED AT VERY SHORT NOTICE.

AND, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ELECTRONIC PAGING SYSTEM THIS YEAR, KEY PERSONNEL CAN NOW BE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED.

/THE MOUNTAIN