ENG-1978 — Page 254

THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES

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areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon and in Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po and Sha Tin in the New Territories.

Volunteers undergo six months' basic training in first aid, rescue work, forest fire- fighting and crowd control duties. After training, they are transferred to operational units where they are required to undertake emergency duties at short notice and in all weather.

The Civil Aid Services has a Cadet Corps which is made up of boys aged between 14 and 18. The main aim of the Cadet Corps is to encourage boys to become useful citizens, to make them aware of their civic duties and responsibilities, and to prepare them for adulthood. These objectives are achieved through training, sports events, expeditions requiring initiative, and operational tasks such as country park patrol- ling, life-saving, mountain rescues, crowd control and assisting in fund raising for charities.

Like their adult colleagues, cadets are recruited from the areas in which they live or study. Cadets are taught basic skills similar to those practised in the adult service as well as camping, trekking, forest conservation, life-saving and mountain craft. More advanced courses for older cadets are held in mechanical engineering, canoe fibre- glassing, welding and allied subjects.

At the age of 18, cadets must leave the Cadet Corps. However they may then join the adult branch of the Civil Aid Services or another auxiliary service if they wish.

Adults and cadets share a 20-hectare base camp used for training exercises and camping expeditions. The camp is situated on a plateau 250 metres above Castle Peak Road at Tsing Lung Tau. It is set in the countryside and includes the derelict village of Yuen Tun which has been partially renovated by the adults and cadets themselves. A centre for water-based activities is being planned at Tai Tan in the Sai Kung peninsula.

Auxiliary Medical Service

The Auxiliary Medical Service has a membership of 5,500 volunteers drawn from all walks of life, including the medical and nursing professions. The Director of Medical and Health Services is the unit controller of the service. Non-professional members are trained in first aid, nursing, casualty handling, and life-saving. Practical training involves sessions in hospital wards,'casualty departments and clinics.

In the event of an emergency, the Auxiliary Medical Service may be mobilised to augment the Medical and Health Services and the ambulance service in treating the injured on the spot, conveying casualties to hospitals and caring for patients in hospitals. It may also be called upon to provide mobile first aid parties to work in conjunction with the emergency services to save lives.

On Sundays and public holidays, members are deployed to assist the Fire Services Department in operating the ambulance service. During the summer months, the Auxiliary Medical Service provides trained life-guards to assist the Urban Services Department at public beaches and swimming pools. Members also man first aid posts at major public functions. Throughout the year, members are deployed for duty in methadone detoxification evening centres and methadone maintenance day centres.

The permanent staff of the Auxiliary Medical Service undertakes the training of government officers in first aid.