Civil Aid Service

Last updated

Civil Aid Services
民眾安全服務隊
Badge of the Civil Aid Service.gif
Agency overview
Formed1952;70 years ago (1952)
Jurisdiction Hong Kong
Headquarters8 To Wah Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
Employees112 full time; 3,634 adult members and 3,232 cadet members
Minister responsible
Agency executives
  • Mr.LO Yan-Lai, Commissioner
  • Mr.Fong Yiu Tong,Francis, Chief Staff Officer (Acting) and Deputy Commissioner (Operation) (Acting)
Website CAS
Civil Aid Service
Traditional Chinese 民眾安全服務隊
Simplified Chinese 民众安全服务队
CAS Headquarters CAS Headquarters.jpg
CAS Headquarters

The Civil Aid Service (CAS) is a civil organisation that assists in a variety of auxiliary emergency roles, including search and rescue operations in Hong Kong. CAS is funded by the Hong Kong Government and its members wear uniforms.

Contents

History

Badge of the Civil Aid Service, 1952-1997. Badge of the Civil Aid Service 1952-1997.gif
Badge of the Civil Aid Service, 1952-1997.
Flag of the Civil Aid Service, 1952-1997. Flag of the Civil Aid Service 1952-1997.gif
Flag of the Civil Aid Service, 1952-1997.

Formed in 1952 under the British colonial government of Hong Kong (CAS Ordinance) and modelled after Civil Aid agencies in the United Kingdom.

As well, a youth section, CAS Cadet Corps, adds 3,232 volunteers to the regular 3,634 force.

The concept was introduced during British rule, an organisation also found in Britain.

A dedicated Civil Aid Service rescue training centre, with indoor and outdoor training areas, was opened by the governor on 15 November 1953 at Hawthorn Road, Happy Valley. [1]

The CAS used to be headquartered at Caroline Hill Road in Causeway Bay. It moved to Yau Ma Tei in 2006. The six-storey former CAS Headquarters is slated for demolition by the government. [2]

Duties

The stated duties of the Service are:

Organisation

CAS are headed by the Commissioner and CAS (Department) by Chief Staff Officer (also Deputy Commissioner).

Past commissioners

Rank

Rank Below IV are called "Other Rank Members"

Facilities

Fleet

CAS Vehicles is managed by Transport Company. There are various types of vehicles in service for different uses including:

Mountain Search and Rescue Company

  1. "Rescue training centre opened by The Hon. R.B. Black". South China Morning Post. 16 November 1953. p. 3.
  2. "794CL – The demolition of existing superstructures at Caroline Hill Road site, Causeway Bay" (PDF). Legislative Council. 17 January 2018.
  3. "Civil Aid Service Hong Kong". Archived from the original on 9 October 2007.
Mountain Search and Rescue Company
Traditional Chinese 民安隊山嶺搜救中隊
Simplified Chinese 民安队山岭搜救中队