ENG-2008 — Page 402

330 Public Order

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 annual report for 2007, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2007, was submitted to the Chief Executive in June 2008. The report will be tabled in the Legislative Council.

Civil Aid Services

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 111 civil servants.

Its primary duty is to provide auxiliary support services during emergencies. Members 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 landslips; and to combat vegetation fires and oil pollution at sea. In 2008, CAS members were mobilised for six rescue operations after tropical cyclones or landslips, 69 mountain search and rescue duties, and nine vegetation fire-fighting operations. On June 8, 2008, CAS members were deployed to assist residents of Tai O to clear sand and mud obstructing an access road and residential blocks following a heavy rainstorm.

The CAS was heavily involved in security control and crowd management during the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong. The CAS provided crowd management services for 210 public events during the year.

The CAS continued to patrol hiking trails and country parks on Sundays and public holidays to assist the public in case of needs. During the dry season, CAS members were on standby duty for vegetation fire-fighting.

The CAS endeavours to develop leadership potential and cultivate civic and national awareness among youngsters by recruiting those aged 12 to 17 into the CAS Cadet Corps. Apart from participating in recreational activities, CAS cadets are taught various disciplines and skills, including foot drill, basic emergency rescue, first aid, rock climbing and expeditions. Cadets aged over 13 are also encouraged to perform crowd management duties at festive or community events, and to patrol country parks.

Government Flying Service

The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined service department. It provides a wide range of flying services, including round-the-clock search and rescue coverage, casualty and medical evacuation, fire fighting and support for law enforcement agencies and other government departments.

The GFS has an establishment of 166 disciplined and 57 civilian staff, and operates an aircraft fleet of two fixed-wing aeroplanes and seven helicopters. In 2008, it flew a total of 4 910 hours, assisted in 326 search and rescue operations and transported 1 350 patients to hospitals by helicopter. Auxiliary flying doctors