XN000022-1985-09-20 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1985

AUXILIARY SERVICES PROVIDING CRUCIAL SUPPORT SIR EDWARD

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HONG KONG'S ABILITY TO COPE SUCCESSFULLY WITH NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES DEPENDED IN PART UPON THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY SERVICES WHO PROVIDED CRUCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE REGULAR UNITS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.

ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, SIR EDWARD SAID TRAINING AND ENTHUSIASM WERE THE KEY ELEMENTS IN THE SUCCESS OF THE AUXILIARIES.

+FROM ALL I HAVE SEEN, PARTICULARLY ON MY VISIT TO YOUR TRAINING CAMP AND HEARD OF THE WORK OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, YOU HAVE INDEED ACHIEVED A VERY HIGH STANDARD IN BOTH RESPECTS,+ HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY MUCH ADMIRED THE WAY THE CAS HAD MET THE CHALLENGES OF THE WIDE RANGE OF ITS TASKS, WHICH INCLUDED CROWD CONTROL, FIGHTING FOREST FIRES, AND CLEANING UP OIL POLLUTION.

THE CAS HAD PROVIDED AN IMPORTANT SERVICE AND WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

EARLIER, THE CAS COMMISSIONER, SIR ROGER LOBO, SAID THE SERVICE WAS FULLY ESTABLISHED BOTH IN THE CADET CORPS AND IN THE ADULT SERVICE, INDICATING THAT MORALE WITHIN THE SERVICE WAS HIGH.

STATING THAT THE YEAR HAD BEEN MORE ACTIVE THAN USUAL, HE SAID THAT DURING THE GROUND ING OF 'MV FROSTA DURBAN', THE CAS WAS MOBILISED TO ASSIST THE MARINE AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS IN LOADING LARGE DRUMS OF DISPERSANTS AND IN SPRAYING THE SEA TO BREAK UP THE OIL SLICKS AFFECTING THE BEACHES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HONG KONG ISLAND.

THE CAS WAS INVOLVED IN THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR WALK FOR A MILLION FROM CAUSEWAY BAY TO TAIKOO SHING, IN WHICH OVER 110 000 WALKERS PARTICIPATED AND AT WHICH MORE THAN $3.1 MILLION WAS RAISED - A RECORD FOR THE COMMUNITY CHEST AND THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS.

SIR ROGER SAID THAT LADY YOUDE WOULD BE VISITING THE CAS TRAINING CENTRE AT YUEN TUN EARLY IN OCTOBER TO OPEN THE ORNAMENTAL GARDEN AND LAKE CONSTRUCTED BY VOLUNTEERS.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 1986, HE SAID, THE CAS HOPED TO ESTABLISH ITS FIRST ISLAND UNIT ON LANTAU.

+THERE IS A DEFINITE FEELING AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WISH TO JOIN AN ORGANISATION SUCH AS THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, IN ORDER TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THEIR TERRITORY, + HE SAID.

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