HONG KONG AIR CADET CORPS
Fact Sheet 1999/2000

The Founding of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps

	The Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps (HKACC) came into existence on 7 April, 1971, when a group of air-minded citizens, local and expatriate, joined together to form a volunteer organization to develop the qualities of comradeship, leadership and good moral character among Hong Kong’s young people through a structured syllabus of aerospace education and disciplined training.

2.	In 1978 the HKACC became a full member of the International Air Cadet Exchange Association (IACEA), although the Corps had been actively participating in the IACE programme ever since its inception.

Objects and Purposes of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps

3.	(a) To provide an organization to encourage and assist the people of Hong Kong in the contribution of their efforts, services and resources in the development of aviation;

	(b) to encourage and develop by example the voluntary contribution of citizens to the public welfare;

	(c) to develop amongst the youth of Hong Kong, by example and inspiration, the qualities leadership and good moral character; and

	(d) to promote international goodwill by participating in exchange programmes, rallies, conferences and other activities with other overseas youth organisations.

Statutory Authority and Status

4.	The Corps is registered under the Societies Ordinance (Hong Kong Ordinance No.28 of 1949) Chapter 151 of the Revised Edition, 1964, and is to be governed by said Ordinance and statutory legislation.

Membership Strength

5.	The overall strength of the Corps as at 31 March, 1999 stood at 155 adult members (officers/warrant officers) and 1802 cadets. There are 3 major Headquarters units (Administration Group, Operations Group & Training Group) and 15 field operational units (squadrons) under the overall executive control of the Commanding Officer. There is also the Commandant who as the ranking uniformed member is the titular head of the Corps. 

Training and Activities

6.	Training is the raison d’être of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps. Training policies and guidelines are overseen and issued by the Training Group at HQ. Routine training activities are organized at squadron level, including at least two hours of classroom training and one hour of footdrill at weekly squadron meetings held on Saturdays or Sundays. At Headquarters level the Training Group either provides or coordinates the following courses for adult and cadet members throughout the year:

	(a)	Recruit Cadet Training Course;
(b)	Officer Cadet Training Course;

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Training and Activities (Cont’d)

	(c)	Warrant Officer Training Course;
	(d)	Senior Non-commissioned Officer Training Course;
	(e)	Junior Non-commissioned Officer Training Courses;
	(f)	Officer Command Course;
(g)	Footdrill Instructor Course;
	(h)	Adult First Aid Course;
(i)	Hong Kong Award for Young People Award (HKAYP) Scheme Expedition Leader Training Course; and
	(j)	Intermediate Aerospace Education Programme;
(k)	Advance Aerospace Education Programme/Private Pilot License Training Programme (in conjunction with the Australian Aviation College in Adelaide, Australia).

	 The classification system is the keystone of our Training Syllabus, and since 1994 links have been established with the Hong Kong Award for Youth Programme (HKAYP: the Hong Kong Branch of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme) through which cadets who achieved a given classification are granted exemptions to all requirements, save those related to expedition, for gaining the corresponding HKAYP badge.

Links with other organizations

7.	Close links are being maintained with other organizations in the Special Administrative Region and in the Mainland China. In 1998/99 joint activities were undertaken with:

(a)	Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong Branch;
(b)	Chinese People’s Armed Police;
(c)	Hong Kong Auxiliary Police;
(d)	Government Flying Service; 
(e)	Hong Kong Adventure Corps;
	(f)	Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps;
	(g)	Scout Association of Hong Kong;
	(h)	Hong Kong Girl Guides Association;
	(i)	Civil Aid Services Cadet Corps;
	(j)	Hong Kong Red Cross;
	(k)	St John Ambulance Association and Brigade;
	(l)	Boys’ Brigade, Hong Kong;
	(m)	Girl’s Brigade, Hong Kong;
	(n)	Road Safety Association; 
	(o)	Youth Pioneers Corps, People's Republic of China;
	(p)	Hong Kong Historical Aircraft Association; and
	(g)	Aero Sports Federation of China.

Service to the Community

8.	The Corps provides manpower support to of a wide range of community activities, including crowd management duties in major public events, district carnivals, charity walks, flag selling and services to disabled persons. All community activities undertaken by the Corps are coordinated at HQ level by the Community Services Flight of Operations Group.  

Other Activities

9.	Other major annual activities organized by the Corps are: Annual Parade, Annual Summer Camp,

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Annual Ball, International Air Cadet Exchange (HK Phase), Annual Sports Day, Commandant’s Award 
Instructional Technique Competition, Albatross Award Footdrill Competition, Campcraft and Expeditions Competition, Fund Raising Walkathon and Aviation Quiz. 

The Executive Board

10.	The governing body of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps is its Executive Board. The Board comprises the elected Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, as well as 4 other elected and co-opted members. In addition to these elected or co-opted members, the Commandant, the Commanding Officer, and the Government Flying Service Air Cadet Liaison Officer are ex officio members.  

Financial Support and Resources

11.	The Social Welfare Department subsidizes the Corps with a small annual grant to cover its recurrent expenses. Activities and capital projects are funded by donations from honorary members and the general public.

Field Operational Units 

12.	When the Corps was first established in 1971, there was but a single cadet unit ("Flight 200") apart from the Headquarters itself.  The Corps has grown from strength to strength over the next 28 years and, as at 31 March 1999, the field operational units are:

		Hong Kong Island Wing				
		Headquarters, Hong Kong Island Wing			
		No 101 Squadron (Causeway Bay Community Centre)	
 		No 102 Squadron (Causeway Bay Community Centre)
		No 103 Squadron (Causeway Bay Community Centre)
		No 104 Squadron (Chai Wan Caritas Youth Centre, Chai Wan)

		Kowloon Wing
		Headquarters, Kowloon Wing
		No 201 Squadron (Ching Chung Secondary School)
		No 202 Squadron (Concordia Lutheran School, Shek Kip Mei)
		No 203 Squadron (Ching Chung Secondary School)
		No 204 Squadron (Nam Cheong Community Centre, Sham Shui Po)
		No 205 Squadron (The Headquarters, HKACC, Sung Wong Toi Road)
		No 206 Squadron (Martha Boss Lutheran Community Centre, Homantin)

		New Territories Wing
		Headquarters, New Territories Wing
		No 301 Squadron (Ju Ching Chu English College, Tsuen Wan)			    		No 302 Squadron (Shatin Technical Institute, Fo Tan)
		No 303 Squadron (Shatin Technical Institute, Fo Tan)
		No 304 Squadron (Sheung Shui Community Centre, Sheung Shui)
No 305 Squadron (Stewards Ma Kam Ming Charitable Foundation Ma Ko Pan Memorial College, Tuen Mun)
	
The Future

13.	The new Constitution inaugurated on 1 April, 1997 allows greater flexibility in the development of the Corps. It is acknowledged that the rapid expansion of the Territory’s aviation industry will provide ample room for our expansion well into the next century. The admission as Honorary Officers of citizens who commit themselves to further the Corps’ well being and goodwill will continue to make available additional financial and human resources to sustain this growth.