In action: The Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army and Government departments join together to participate in a short-range search-and-rescue exercise organised by the Civil Aviation Department on Kwo Chau Islands.

The Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army and Government departments joined together to display their search-and-rescue capabilities during a short-range event organised by the Civil Aviation Department on Kwo Chau Islands.

The exercise aimed to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the search-and-rescue units of the department and PLA, and to enhance technical exchanges between PLA and Hong Kong search-and-rescue units. 

The search-and-rescue units included those from the Government Flying Service, Civil Aid Service, Fire Services Department, Marine Police and Marine Department.

PLA provided unprecedented resources

In today's exercise, the PLA provided unprecedented resources and mobilised two naval vessels, a Z9 helicopter and about 30 officers to take part.

The exercise involved a demonstration by the Fire Services Department's diving unit, and simulated deck-winching by the Z9 helicopter and a Eurocopter Super Puma AS332 L2 helicopter from the Government Flying Service.

The Z9 helicopter took the simulated survivor from the PLA to the  PLA Forces Hospital in Jordan Road., Kowloon by the Z9 helicopter. The Government Flying Service also provided a Jetstream J41 aircraft to coordinate the search-and-rescue activities.

More than 20 senior officials from General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and Mainland rescue, surveillance and salvage units came to Hong Kong to observe the demonstration.

Director-General of Civil Aviation Norman Lo said the PLA has been giving his department tremendous support by participating in its annual search-and-rescue exercises and Hong Kong is fortunate enough to enlist PLA's support with its facilities and assistance.

Co-operation arrangement signed in April

In April 2004, the Civil Aviation Department signed the Co-operation Arrangement on Aircraft Accident Investigation & Search & Rescue with China's General Administration of Civil Aviation in Beijing.