ENG-1975 — Page 218

THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES

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alongside the Hong Kong International Airport and it has an establishment of 111 volunteers and more than 50 permanent staff. It has five aircraft-a twin-engined Britten-Norman Islander, a Beechcraft Musketeer and three Alouette Mark III helicopters.

The unit can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it is able to under- take full-time duties in an emergency. Its main role is internal security but it also operates as a communication squadron. Volunteers are trained at week-ends and in the evenings.

More than 130 casualty evacuation flights were carried out during the year. The unit also carries out search and rescue, aerial survey, the flying doctor service, surveil- lance flights to hinder drug running activities, training of air traffic controllers of the Civil Aviation Department to private pilot's standard, and the conveyance of govern- ment officers to outlying areas.

The unit celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1974 and a commemorative First Day Cover was produced on February 1, 1975 jointly with the RAF Museum at Hendon. Some of the covers were carried in the squadron's Islander aircraft to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, and some locally in one of the Alouette helicopters.

Essential Services Corps

The Essential Services Corps comprises four autonomous services-units of the Essential Services Corps, the Civil Aid Services, the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Auxiliary Fire Services.

The 70 units in the Essential Services Corps can be mobilised at times of severe disorder to help maintain public utilities and other essential services if the security of Hong Kong or the welfare of the population is in danger. The future of the ESC and, in particular, the need to maintain the corps as a standing body, was under review at the end of the year.

Civil Aid Services

The volunteer Civil Aid Services consist of disciplined and uniformed members of the public who assist other regular emergency services in combatting natural disasters and civil unrest. The role of the Civil Aid Services has recently been reviewed and duties have been expanded and diversified. Volunteers are now trained to handle casualties, to conduct both light and heavy search and rescue operations in the case of victims trapped in landslips or collapsed buildings, and to give assistance to people lost or injured in the mountains. Duties also include motor cycle reconnaissance of damaged roads and the reporting of accidents, manning of typhoon shelters, and assisting in the registration and feeding of the homeless, forest fire-fighting, and anti-oil pollution duties.

The adult establishment of the Civil Aid Services was reduced from 3,800 to 2,300 at the beginning of the year. Volunteers are recruited from almost every walk of life, and are always ready to perform arduous and often hazardous tasks at any time and in any weather conditions.