The Hong Kong Government Flying Service (GFS) successfully concluded its inaugural three-day International Symposium on Emergency Response and Aeromedical Services (ISERAS) on June 18, 2026, bringing together more than 230 policymakers, experts, academics, and industry representatives from over 70 institutions worldwide. Participants from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Austria, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand attended the event, which aimed to enhance cooperation in emergency linkage, resource sharing, and professional training across regions.
The symposium featured 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 partners in the Chinese Mainland, as well as domestic and international emergency, aviation, and medical institutions. These agreements are expected to strengthen transnational emergency response capabilities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk emphasized that climate change is driving the need for proactive prevention and enhanced international collaboration. “A shift to proactive prevention, continuous enhancement of international and cross-regional collaboration, and enhanced experience and insight sharing among stakeholders are key to rising to new and complex challenges,” Cheuk said. He noted that the collaborative spirit of ISERAS would forge stronger partnerships and secure a safer future for communities.
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 presentation 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 response to terrorist attacks.
Captain Eddie Liu, Controller of the GFS, highlighted the GFS’s role in emergency response and rescue, including search and rescue, air ambulance services, and internal security. “In emergencies such as terrorist attacks, the GFS would make rapid deployment to assist the disciplined services in conducting air assault, offering all-round support to the HKSAR Government's overall counter-terrorism efforts,” Liu said. Since its establishment in 1993, the GFS has been at the forefront of round-the-clock search-and-rescue and emergency aeromedical operations.
ISERAS aims to build a transnational pool of professional expertise, underscoring Hong Kong’s status as an aviation hub for emergency response in Asia. The event was supported by Brand Hong Kong, with more information available at Brand Hong Kong.
