ENG-2001 — Page 430

PUBLIC ORDER

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$19.04 million was allocated to 36 successful applications, including 30 preventive education and publicity projects, five treatment and rehabilitation projects and one research project.

Civil Aid Service

The Civil Aid Service (CAS) is a government auxiliary emergency service established under the Civil Aid Service Ordinance. It has an establishment of 3 634 adult volunteer members, 3 232 cadets and a permanent staff of 120 civil servants.

The primary duty of CAS is to provide civil support services during emergencies. Members of the volunteer service are trained to perform emergency duties during typhoons, flooding and landslips; to search for and rescue people in distress in mountains; to help evacuate or rescue victims trapped under collapsed buildings or buried in landslides; and to combat forest fires and oil pollution at sea.

In 2001, CAS members were called to duties on two typhoon occasions, conducted nine flood rescue operations, and were called out 42 times to conduct mountain search and rescue. From January to April and from October to December, more than 200 CAS members were deployed to stand by on every Sunday and public holiday for Countryside Fire Protection Duties when the Amber or Red Fire Warning Signal was issued. The members took part in a total of 70 vegetation fire fighting operations.

In 2001, the CAS also performed crowd management duties in 236 events; conducted 40 country park and hiking trail patrols; arranged 35 talks on mountain hiking safety for organised groups, school teachers, students, and hiking group leaders; organised eight disciplinary module training courses for 234 school leavers under the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme of the Labour Department; and organised 10 training camps for 780 secondary students under the Smart Teen Challenge Camp Scheme of the Education Department.

The CAS endeavours to develop leadership potential and cultivate civic awareness among young people by recruiting boys and girls in the 12 to 16 age group for the Cadet Corps under the CAS Youth Wing. Apart from participating in recreational activities, cadets are trained in a wide variety of disciplines and skills including foot drill, light rescue, basic mechanical and electrical knowledge, printing, canoe-building and fibreglass moulding. They also receive training in crowd control, rock climbing and expeditions. Those aged over 14 years are encouraged to take part in patrolling country parks and in crowd control duties at community events.

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 serves the community by providing a 24-hour air ambulance service and participating in search and rescue operations.

In 2001, the GFS operated a fleet of 11 aircraft: six Sikorsky S-76 and three S-70 (Black Hawk) helicopters, as well as two Jetstream J-41 aeroplanes. Eight new helicopters have been procured to replace the existing fleet to further enhance the service's capabilities. Three of the new helicopters were delivered during the year. The remaining helicopters will be delivered by December 2002. During the year, the GFS flew a total of 6 430 hours in support of its clients and training for the complex roles undertaken. The organisation is staffed by 183 disciplined and 62 general grades