ENG-1990 — Page 340

PUBLIC ORDER

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The CAS permanent staff and volunteers also perform duties in two centres for Vietnamese boat people, namely the Kai Tak Vietnamese Boat People Departure Centre and the Argyle Street Detention Centre.

Service Training

Service training is divided into centralised courses and unit training, both of which are designed to promote and maintain the operational efficiency of the service. The centralised courses in 1990-91 embraced a wide variety of subjects. In addition to normal counter- disaster courses, first-aid, fire-fighting and conventional rescue instruction have been included, the aim being to train adult volunteers in disaster control and management during large-scale emergencies and at civic functions.

Overseas training was organised for both permanent staff and volunteer officers. In 1990-91, one officer attended the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre in Bangkok for disaster-management training, and two officers were attached to the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom to undergo advanced mountain rescue 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 training facilities with simulated smoke rooms, 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 incorporates an old Chinese village dating back some 260 years, which was completely restored 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. Additional camping areas are being developed to cater for more campers and enhanced training activities.

The campsite at Tai Tan, Sai Kung is to provide training facilities for persons wishing to take part in all forms of waterborne activities. Camp facilities include two furnished classrooms; kitchen, toilet and shower blocks; a boat shed, and open space for camping.

Cadet Corps

The Cadet Corps is organised into 32 units located throughout the territory. The Cadet Corps scheme has been extended to cater for girls over 12 years of age. At present 352 girls have been enrolled into 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 1990, two cadets qualified for Gold Awards, 14 for Silver Awards and 28 for Bronze Awards. At 18, cadets leave the corps and may join the Adult Services.

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF), based at Hong Kong International Airport, provides a variety of flying services for the government. It operates a