ENG-1997 — Page 382

294

PUBLIC ORDER

Mountain Safety Education

Based on the recommendations of the Inter-departmental Investigation Team after the Pat Sin Leng hill fire on February 10, 1996, the CAS expanded its role to help promote public awareness of mountain safety by conducting training courses on mountain/hiking safety for organised groups, school teachers and hiking group leaders. The CAS also provided basic mountain rescue training for members of the emergency services and working-at-height training for staff of government departments and the private sector.

Cadet Corps

The Cadet Corps is under the CAS Youth Wing. It has an establishment of 23 all- male units, six all-female units and three mixed units. Cadets are recruited from the 12 to 16 age group. They are provided with recreational activities and a wide range of discipline and skills training including foot drill, casualty handling, light rescue, basic mechanical and electrical engineering, canoe-building and fibreglass moulding, printing and book-binding, carpentry and interior design. They are also trained in countryside preservation, crowd control, rock climbing, orienteering and expeditions. Cadets over 14 years old are encouraged to perform rural area patrolling, crowd control and community services.

Government Flying Service

The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined service providing flying support to departments and agencies of the HKSAR Government. It also directly supports the community by offering a 24-hour air ambulance and Search and Rescue service.

The GFS operates a fleet of 11 aircraft: six Sikorsky S-76 and three S-70 (Black Hawk) helicopters and two Beech Super King Air aeroplanes. In 1997 the GFS flew a total of 6 603 hours in support of its clients and in training for the complex roles undertaken. The organisation is staffed by 184 disciplined and 67 general grade personnel. The GFS carries out most of the maintenance work in its headquarters in Kowloon Bay.

The GFS undertakes a variety of roles which include supporting the Hong Kong Police Force in law enforcement duties, assisting the Fire Services Department by water-bombing hill fires using the underslung fire bucket, and aerial mapping and survey for the Lands Department. In 1997 the GFS also transported 1 428 patients to hospital by helicopter, assisted in 111 Search and Rescue operations and flew approximately 20 905 government officers and official visitors in the course of their duties.

The pilot localisation scheme continues to progress well and the department now has 11 qualified local operational helicopter and six local aeroplane Captains. Another 11 remain under training.