ENG-2007 — Page 387

Public Order | 331

Appeal, as the commissioner for a period of three years. The commissioner is assisted by a secretariat in performing his functions under the ordinance.

The main duties of the commissioner are to oversee and conduct reviews on the compliance by LEAS and their officers with the relevant requirements under the ordinance; carry out examinations upon applications from people who suspect they are subjects of interception or covert surveillance conducted by LEAs; give notifications to those affected in cases of interception or covert surveillance without the authority of a prescribed authorisation; and make recommendations to the Secretary for Security on the code of practice issued under the ordinance and to the heads of LEAs to better carry out the aims of the ordinance and the code of practice.

The commissioner is required to submit annual reports to the Chief Executive with statistical information and his assessment on the overall compliance with the relevant requirements under the ordinance during the report period. The first annual report, covering the period from the commencement of the ordinance to December 31, 2006, was submitted to the Chief Executive in June 2007. The report was tabled in the Legislative Council in October 2007.

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 members, 3 232 cadets and 106 civil servants.

The primary duty of the CAS is to provide civil support services during emergencies. Members of the service are trained to perform emergency duties during typhoons, flooding and landslips; search for and rescue people in distress in mountains; help evacuate or rescue victims trapped under collapsed buildings or buried in landslips; and combat vegetation fires and oil pollution at sea. In 2007, CAS members were mobilised for one typhoon rescue operation, 73 mountain search and rescue duties, and 35 vegetation fire-fighting operations.

The CAS members continued to patrol hiking trails and country parks on Sundays and public holidays to assist people on outings who need help. During the dry season, members were on standby for fire-fighting duties. CAS participated in various events held to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR. The CAS also helped organise several youth exchange programmes in Beijing, entitled 'Youth Patriots Express - A Celebration of Ten Legendary Years' and 'Youth Exchange Visit In Beijing'. It also provided crowd management services at 208 public events during the year.

On another front, the CAS helps young people to develop leadership potential and civic awareness, and runs a recruitment programme for youngsters aged between 12 and 17 to join the CAS Cadet Corps. Apart from participating in recreational activities, the cadets are trained in a wide variety of disciplines and skills including foot drill, basic emergency rescue, printing and binding, fibreglass moulding, rock climbing and explorations. Cadets aged over 13 are also encouraged