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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 2009, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2009, was submitted to the Chief Executive in June 2010 and tabled in the Legislative Council in November 2010.

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 103 civil servants.

CAS members are trained to perform emergency duties during typhoons, floods 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 2010, CAS members carried out three rescue operations during tropical cyclones and landslips, 80 mountain search and rescue operations, and eight vegetation fire-fighting operations.

The CAS provides emergency relief to victims of natural and other disasters. During the year, the CAS rendered assistance to the victims of a collapsed building in To Kwa Wan, joined other Government departments in a week-long search for a missing New Zealand pilot, and helped prepare residents of low-lying areas in Tai O for the approach of super typhoon Megi in late October.

The CAS endeavours to develop leadership potential and cultivate civic and national awareness among young people by recruiting those aged 12 to 17 into the CAS Cadet Corps. Besides participating in recreational activities, CAS cadets are taught various disciplines and skills, including foot drill, basic emergency rescue, crowd management, first aid, rock climbing and expeditions.

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 169 disciplined and 58 civilian staff, and operates a fleet of three fixed-wing aeroplanes and seven helicopters. In 2010, it flew a total of 5 475 hours, assisted in 411 search and rescue operations and transported 1 493 people to hospitals by helicopter. It also flew 8 616 government officers and official visitors in the course of their duties or programmes. In addition, auxiliary flying doctors and nurses flew a total of 421 hours in 560 operations.

Websites

Security Bureau: www.sb.gov.hk (links to Disciplined Services) Independent Commission Against Corruption: www.icac.org.hk Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance: www.sciocs.gov.hk

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