ENG-1989 — Page 312

PUBLIC ORDER

to train adult volunteers in disaster control and management during large-scale emer- gencies and at civic functions.

Overseas training was organised for both permanent staff and volunteer officers. In 1989-90 two officers were sent to the Australian Counter Disaster College in Victoria for disaster-management training.

Training Facilities

The CAS has two main training centres and two training camps. The two training centres located on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon have rescue ranges with simulated smoke rooms and facilities for rescue from confined spaces, towers for practising rescue from height and classrooms for indoor instruction.

The 20-hectare training camp at Tsing Lung Tau which incorporates an old Chinese village dating back 260 years was completely rebuilt several years ago and has now been furnished and equipped with farming equipment of the period. The camp facilities include a swimming pool, a jogging track, a rope initiative course, a soccer field, camping sites and rescue range areas.

The new camp at Tai Tan, Sai Kung, is to provide training facilities for anyone wishing to take part in all forms of waterborne activities. The camp, after being completed in April 1989 with basic facilities, will be further developed to include a hard court for parades, camping areas and a swimming training pool. These projects are planned for completion in 1990-91.

Cadet Corps

The Cadet Corps is organised into 30 units located throughout the territory. From mid-1987, 220 females were enrolled in the corps. Cadets enter at the age of 12 to 14 and then undertake a series of training courses. Tuition includes training in basic mechanical and electrical engineering, carpentry and fibreglassing, printing and bookbinding as well as training in photography and interior design. The cadets are trained in countryside preservation, first-aid, crowd-control psychology, road safety, rock climbing, orienteering, expeditions and trekking. They are encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and in 1989, eight cadets qualified for Silver Awards and 60 for Bronze Awards. At 18, the cadets leave the corps and may join the Adult Services.

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, based at Hong Kong International Airport, provides a variety of flying services for the government. It operates a fleet of 10 aircraft: two twin-engined Beech Super King Airs, a Britten-Norman Islander, four Slingsby Firefly trainers and three Aerospatiale Dauphin twin-engined helicopters. With an establishment of 140 permanent staff and 165 volunteers comprising aircrew, engineers and admin- istrative staff, the RHKAAF can operate round-the-clock for seven days a week during an emergency. A total of about 3 650 hours have been flown during the year.

In 1989, the RHKAAF responded to 220 requests for emergency medical evacuation and rescues. Some of these requests came from the local fleet of about 5 000 fishing boats, many of which now have high-frequency radios enabling them to call for assistance when necessary. Sixty search and rescue operations were carried out, involving both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. During the dry season, the Dauphins assisted in over 92 fire-fighting operations and dropped over 1 725 tonnes of water on bush and forest fires in areas inaccessible to conventional fire-fighting appliances.

265