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The course is based upon the United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue System adapted to the environment in Hong Kong.

The programme includes Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre procedures, and search and rescue facilities with special emphasis on search planning techniques.

Besides keeping a pool of trained marine officers for the MRCC, officers of the Marine Department, Marine Police, Government Flying Service and Government departments on the course will find the course useful as an additional tool in their professional activities.

The Marine Department's MRCC is responsible for search and rescue co- ordination for the area of the South China Sea north of latitude 10 degrees north and west of longitude 120 degrees east, excluding the immediate coastal waters of neighbouring states.

The MRCC has reached its current level of efficiency following its establishment, as a result of the Osprey disaster in 1983.

The MRCC had full communications capability for the co-ordination of search and rescue missions for ships in difficulties within about 1,300 kilometres of Hong Kong and in handling of vessel emergencies within Hong Kong waters.

End/Tuesday, May 30, 1995

Appointment of Director of Civil Engineering

The Government announced today (Tuesday) that Mr Lam Moon-tim, Bernard, Project Manager in the New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office (NAPCO) has been selected to succeed Dr Edward Brand as Director of Civil Engineering.

Making the announcement, the Secretary for Works, Mr James Blake, explained that Dr Brand's overseas agreement was due to expire and that his position had therefore been opened up to competition among senior officers in the Lands and Works Groups of departments under new arrangements introduced for agreement officers in December 1994. Mr Lam was selected.

"Dr Brand has made a tremendous contribution during his 17 years in the civil service," Mr Blake said, commenting on the results.