XN000022-1983-09-23 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1983

SIR PHILIP PRAISES CAS PUBLIC SERVICE

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HONG KONG'S VOLUNTEER CIVIL AID SERVICES WAS PRAISED THIS EVENING BY THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, FOR ITS COMMUNITY WORK.

SIR PHILIP SAID, AS AN EXAMPLE, THAT THE CAS SHOWED YET AGAIN DURING THE PASSAGE OF TYPHOON ELLEN EARLIER THIS MONTH WHAT AN INDISPENSABLE ROLE IT PLAYS IN RELIEVING THE PRESSURES ON THE REGULAR SERVICES BY HELPING TO CLEAR DEBRIS AND RESCUE TRAPPED PEOPLE FROM COLLAPSED BUILDINGS.+

+NEARLY A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS RESPONDED TO THE

CHALLENGE SWIFTLY AND, ALONGSIDE THEIR COLLEAGUES IN THE REGULAR SERVICES, THEY WORKED QUIETLY AND WITH GREAT EFFICIENCY,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.

SIR PHILIP WAS SPEAKING AS GUEST THIS EVENING AT THE CAS ANNUAL DINNER HELD IN A KOWLOON RESTAURANT.

HE RECALLED THAT THE CAS WAS FORMED IN 1952, BASICALLY AS A CIVIL DEFENCE UNIT OF RECRUITS OBLIGED TO UNDERTAKE SOME FORM OF COMPULSORY NATIONAL SERVICE.

SINCE THEN, HE SAID, IT HAS DEVELOPED INTO A BROAD-BASED ORGANISATION TO HELP WITH NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES, AS WELL AS CROWD CONTROL DURING FESTIVALS. IT ALSO ENGAGED IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE WORK AMONG OTHER +SPECIAL AREAS OF EXPERTISE+.

CONGRATULATING THE CAS COMMISSIONER, MR ROGER LOBO, AND STAFF ON THE +FINE WORK OF THE DYNAMIC CORPS OF VOLUNTEERS,+ SIR PHILIP SAID I AM ASSURED THAT THEIR MORALE, AS BEFITS A UNIFORMED AND DISCIPLINED SERVICE, IS UNAFFECTED BY CURRENT ANXIETIES - WHICH, OF COURSE, NONE CAN ESCAPE. IT IS HOW WE COPE WITH SUCH ANXIETIES WHICH MATTERS.+

WELCOMING THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR, MR LOBO SAID THE CAS WAS +A LARGE AND HAPPY FAMILY OF HONG KONG BELONGERS REPRESENTING PRACTICALLY EVERY PROFESSION, TRADE AND SKILL - WITH A SINCERE AIM TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.+

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THE CAS MEMBERS WERE EVER READY, WHENEVER CALLED ON, TO CARRY OUT ANY DUTY THEY COULD PERFORM -- +ALONE OR SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE OTHER SERVICES, MR LOBO SAID.

THE CAS HAD RECEIVED 500 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE LAST YEAR AND WAS NOW HAVING TO BE MORE SELECTIVE +SO THAT VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT OVER-EXTENDED IN PERFORMING TOO FREQUENT DUTIES.+

WHILE THE CAS WOULD SELDOM, IF EVER, TURN DOWN A REQUEST FOR GENUINE ASSISTANCE, IT MUST NOW EVALUATE ITS PRIORITIES, AS ITS EXPANSION PROGRAMMÉ INTO THE NEW TOWNS, TOGETHER WITH ITS REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING AND EFFICIENCY, WAS A MATTER OF PRIORITY,

MR LOBO SAID ALSO THAT AS HONG KONG BELONGERS, CAS MEMBERS STRIVE HARD IN THEIR DUTIES +TO MAINTAIN THE TERRITORY'S STABILITY, PEACE AND PROSPERITY, THE LIFESTYLE AND SYSTEM THE MEMBERS WERE USED TO, AND TO ENSURE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE „+

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