Feature: PLA Takes Part in HK Search and Rescue Exercise

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 25, 2002

Feature: PLA Takes Part in HK Search and Rescue Exercise

The yellow "Super Puma" hovering over the blue waters near Hong Kong's Lantau Island, a rescuer roped down from the plane and managed to carry the victim falling into water to safety.

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The yellow "Super Puma" hovering over the blue waters near Hong Kong's Lantau Island, a rescuer roped down from the plane and managed to carry the victim falling into water to safety.

This is not a scene from a Hollywood movie, but part of Hong Kong's annual Search and Rescue Exercise held here Wednesday, which the People's Liberation Army Forces stationed in Hong Kong had taken part for the fourth time.

Spokesman for the PLA in Hong Kong ,Feng Wei said the PLA sent a helicopter and a missile escort vessel to join in the exercise at the invitation of the the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region( HKSAR)government. They would strengthen understanding and exchange with other units involved and try to master more experience on search and rescue.

Besides PLA, eight other units including the HKSAR's Government Flying Service (GFS) and the United States Coast Guard joined in the exercise, which was organized by the Civil Aviation Department of the HKSAR at Hau Hok Wan near the Hong Kong International Airport.

During Wednesday's short range search and rescue, the PLA soldiers piloted a green Z9 helicopter to demonstrate aerial search, which drew applause from more than 100 observers present.

This was followed by water winching demonstrations by one of the three newly-bought Eurocopter Super Puma AS332 L2 helicopter by the GFS, which was aimed to greatly enhance GFS's capability as an Emergency Response Service provider in Hong Kong.

The "Super Puma", according to GFS's mechanics Bruce Wong, could "anchor" on the surface of the water to "drink water" into its tank or to carry chemicals in order to distinguish fire. Moreover, it could fly faster and longer than other helicopters they had and was equipped with advanced medical equipment.

In the four-day exercise, a long range search and rescue exercise about 80 nautical miles to the south of Hong Kong will be held Thursday to test the alerting procedures, coordination and communication facilities of the various participants.

Experts on search and rescue from Chinese Mainland, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam as well as representatives from the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Civil Aid Service, the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force's Marine Region and those from a number of airlines viewed Wednesday's exercise.

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