Hong Kong GFS Hosts Inaugural Emergency Response Symposium

Hong Kong's Government Flying Service (GFS) recently hosted its inaugural three-day International Symposium on Emergency Response and Aeromedical Services (ISERAS) from June 16 to 18, 2026. The event gathered over 230 policymakers, experts, academics, and industry representatives from more than 70 institutions and accredited organizations worldwide, including Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Austria, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. The symposium aimed to foster closer cooperation in emergency linkage, resource sharing, and professional training across regions. Key activities included plenary sessions, panel discussions, technical visits, and live demonstrations conducted jointly by the GFS and various government emergency units. Several memoranda of understanding were signed to deepen collaboration between the GFS and the Chinese Mainland, as well as domestic and international emergency, aviation, and medical institutions.

During the opening ceremony, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk emphasized the evolving challenges of emergency response due to climate change, calling for a shift to proactive prevention, enhanced international and cross-regional collaboration, and greater experience sharing among stakeholders. Wang Lei, Director General of the Rescue and Salvage Bureau of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China (CRS), delivered a keynote on air rescue capabilities and strategic development in the South China Sea. The symposium concluded with an interdepartmental counter-terrorism drill involving the GFS, Hong Kong Police Force, and Hong Kong Fire Services Department, showcasing Hong Kong's professional capabilities in responding to terrorist attacks.

Captain Eddie Liu, Controller of the GFS, highlighted the GFS's critical role in emergency response, search and rescue, air ambulance, and aeromedical services, as well as its responsibility for maintaining internal security. Since its establishment in 1993, the GFS has been at the forefront of round-the-clock operations. The ISERAS aims to build a transnational pool of professional expertise, underscoring Hong Kong's status as an aviation hub for emergency response in Asia. For more information, visit Brand Hong Kong.