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The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) today (October 29) successfully completed a short range joint search and rescue exercise (SAREX) at Tung O Wan, Lamma Island.
Eight search and rescue units participated in the exercise, which included the CAD, the Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army, the China Maritime Search and Rescue Centre (CMSARC), the Government Flying Service (GFS), the Marine Department, the Marine Police, the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Civil Aid Service.
"The objective of this exercise is to strengthen the co-operation and co-ordination in and rescue operations between CAD and the Garrison as well as relevant units of the Mainland and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," a CAD spokesman said.
"It also provides air traffic controllers, aircrew and other relevant units with continuation training to refresh their techniques on search and rescue operations."
"The drill is essential to ensuring quick and effective response by all units concerned in an emergency," the spokesman added.
This year's exercise, code-named SAREX 2008, consists of a short range exercise at Tung O Wan, Lamma Island, today (October 29) and a long-range exercise tomorrow (October 30) over the South China Sea, about 80 nautical miles south of Hong Kong.
Today's exercise simulated a helicopter crash at Tung O Wan, Lamma Island. All seven people on board were rescued through the joint efforts of vessels and helicopters of the Garrison, CMSARC, GFS, Marine Police and FSD.
More than 130 search and rescue experts from the Mainland, the US and other Southeast Asian countries observed the exercise.
A search and rescue seminar was also hosted by CAD under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation from yesterday (October 28) to this morning to promote professional knowledge in search and rescue and enable experience sharing among relevant personnel so as to enhance mutual understanding, co-operation and co-ordination among search and rescue units.
"In accordance with Annex 12 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, CAD organises regular exercises to enhance the department's search and rescue capabilities. The exercises also give search and rescue experts in the region an opportunity to exchange views and share expertise on the latest search and rescue techniques," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:56
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