Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS) successfully hosted the first International Symposium on Emergency Response and Aeromedical Services (ISERAS) from June 16 to 18, 2026, attracting more than 230 policymakers, experts, academics, and industry representatives from over 70 institutions and accredited organizations. Participants came from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Austria, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, aiming to enhance cooperation in emergency linkage, resource sharing, and professional training across regions.
The three-day event featured plenary sessions, panel discussions, technical visits, and live demonstrations jointly conducted 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.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk emphasized that climate change is accelerating the evolution of emergency response challenges. “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 added that the collaborative spirit of ISERAS would forge stronger partnerships, strengthen emergency response capabilities, 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 on air rescue capabilities and strategic development in the South China Sea. The symposium concluded with an interdepartmental counter-terrorism drill and exchange session involving the GFS, the Hong Kong Police Force, and the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, demonstrating Hong Kong’s professional capabilities in responding to terrorist attacks.
Captain Eddie Liu, Controller of the GFS, noted that the GFS has always played a crucial role in emergency response and rescue. “In addition to assisting in search and rescue, providing air ambulance and other emergency aeromedical services, the GFS also shoulders the responsibility of maintaining internal security of the HKSAR,” Liu said. “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.”
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 collectively build a transnational pool of professional expertise, underscoring Hong Kong’s status as an aviation hub for emergency response in Asia. For more information about Hong Kong’s branding initiatives, visit Brand Hong Kong.
