| 1950 |
AMS was officially established.
|
| 1952 |
Dr. K.C. Yeo was appointed
as the first Unit Controller of AMS.
|
| 1953 |
A huge blaze swept the
Shek Kip Mei squatter area. AMS was mobilized to assist in the overnight
rescue operation.
|
| 1956 |
A serious civil disturbance
broke out in Lei Cheng Uk Estate resulting in hundreds of casualties.
AMS deployed members to provide assistance at hospitals.
|
| 1958 |
Dr. David J.M. Mackenzie
succeeded Dr. K.C. Yeo as Unit Controller of AMS.
|
| 1962 |
Massive influx of refugees
from China into Hong Kong put a heavy strain on the demand for medical
services. AMS was fully mobilized and assisted the Medical and Health
Department in epidemic prevention and health care.
Typhoon Wendy attacked Hong Kong resulting in a cut-off of transportation
to and from the Territory. Thousands of casualties were reported.
AMS assisted in rescue operation for days in succession.
|
| 1963 |
Dr P.H. Teng succeeded
Dr. David J.M. Mackenzie as Unit Controller of AMS.
|
| 1964 |
Upon the outbreak of cholera,
AMS members were deployed to man the quarantine centre at Chatham
Road to assist in epidemic prevention.
|
| 1966 |
Heavy rainstorms resulted
in many accidents. AMS joined force with other departments to deal
with the disasters.
The Star Ferry fare increase led to an outbreak of civil disturbances.
AMS members were deployed to various ambulance depots of the Fire
Services Department to augment the regular ambulance service.
|
| 1967 |
Hong Kong was tense with
civil disturbance. Despite the imposition of curfew, AMS members responded
to calls and provided medical assistance.
|
| 1970 |
The Transport Division
and the AMS Band were set up.
Dr. G.H. Choa succeeded Dr. P.H. Teng as Commissioner of AMS.
|
| 1972 |
Heavy rainstorms caused
landslides and mudslides in most parts of Hong Kong, causing large
number of casualties. AMS was in full mobilization assisting in operation
of the casualty clearing/retention centres.
On the "Open Day" of the Shek Kong Army Camp, the spectator stand
suddenly collapsed. AMS members were dispatched to both the incident
site and to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to assist in the rescue and
handling of hundreds of casualties.
|
| 1973 |
A gas explosion near a
busy department store in Causeway Bay caused a large number of casualties.
AMS members were deployed to the scene and to the nearby ambulance
stations and hospitals to render medical assistance.
|
| 1975 |
The year witnessed the
first influx of Vietnamese boat people to Hong Kong. AMS members were
assigned to provide round-the clock services at the clinics set up
in various refugee camps.
|
| 1976 |
The Medical and Health
Department launched the methadone treatment scheme for the rehabilitation
of drug addicts. AMS members assisted the Department in manning 25
methadone clinics in Hong Kong.
|
| 1977 |
Dr K.L. Thong succeeded
Dr. G.H. Choa as Unit Controller of AMS.
AMS was called to assist in casualty evacuation on board police launches
as a result of a ferry collision off Lamma Island.
|
| 1983 |
AMS became an independent
government department operation under the Security Branch of the Government
Secretariat.
|
| 1985 |
AMS members were deployed
as temporary dental surgery assistants to alleviate the staff shortage
problem at government dental clinics.
|
| 1986 |
AMS regions were realigned
to conform to the implementation of the district administration scheme
with dividing the territory into 18 districts.
|
| 1988 |
AMS participated in the
early batches of repatriation of Vietnamese refugees.
|
| 1989 |
Dr. S.H. Lee succeeded
Dr. K.L. Thong as Commissioner of AMS.
The first batch of AMS members attended disaster management training
at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand.
|
| 1990 |
AMS edited and published
the "Emergency Care Handbook."
|
| 1991 |
The Governor, sir David
Wilson, officiated at the ceremony of the AMS Headquarters building
at Princess Margaret Road, Homantin.
The AMS Song was composed and launched.
The first issue of the AMS newsletter was printed and released on
up-to-date news and development of the Service.
|
| 1992 |
The Shek Kong Vietnamese
Camp caught fire on the first day of the Lunar New Year causing heavy
casualties. Members assisted in the overnight rescue operation.
AMS Emergency Response Task Force was established to provide on-the-spot
paramedic services.
The Department of Health launched the organ donation campaign. AMS
had successfully appealed to about 3,000 of its members to give support
to the campaign.
|
| 1993 |
The AMS Members' Pledge
to serve the community with humanitarian commitment was promulgated,
enabling members to have a clearer understanding of the spirit of
AMS.
AMS published its performance pledge in response to the Governor's
policy address.
An ambulance fleet was introduced and manned 24 hours a day at AMS
Headquarters to provide back-up and on-call service.
The New Territories Regional Office cum Tsuen Wan Training Centre
was officially put to use.
AMS invited Australian experts on disaster medicine to Hong Kong to
organize training courses for its members. An inter-departmental seminar
on disaster medicine was held with six emergency departments taking
part.
Two major accidents occurred. A fire broke out in an elderly home
in Kowloon and an aircraft belonging to the China Airline skidded
into the sea while landing. AMS was mobilized to assist in the rescue
operations.
At the invitation of the Beijing Emergency Centre, an AMS delegation
went to Beijing to take part in a seminar. The visit marked the first
step in establishing intellectual exchanges between the Hong Kong
and their Chinese counterparts in the disaster medicine field.
|
| 1994 |
Dr. Margaret Chan succeeded
Dr. S.H. Lee as Commissioner of AMS. She is the first woman to assume
the role of Commissioner.
A Touch Screen Computer Directory System was installed at the reception
area on the ground floor of AMS Headquarters to provide information
on the Service.
A Resource Centre was set up to enable members to have an easy access
to reference materials.
The organization of volunteer service was re-structured to facilitate
a better deployment of human resources.
|
| 1995 |
An AMS delegation visited
medical authorities in Guangzhou and Foshan to exchange views and
experiences on disaster medicine and the combined use of Western and
Chinese medicine.
AMS representatives were sent to participate in the International
Conference on Disaster and Emergency Medicine in Shanghai in April
and the South and East Asia Conference on Emergency Medicine Care
in Singapore in August.
Set up a 24-hour enquiry hotline (2762 2033) which operated through
an Interactive Voice Response System to facilitate members of the
public to enquire about the services of AMS.
The "Nursing Practice Manual" was edited and published .
AMS celebrated its 45th anniversary.
|
| 1996 |
The quick response of
AMS ERTF to the 'Garley Building Fire Disaster' and their remarkable
performance at the scene won them the commendation of the Hong Kong
Governor.
The Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport team was set up.
|
| 1997 |
The AMS logo was re-designed
reflecting the return of the sovereignty of Hong Kong to China.
In order to fulfil the AMS core mission, the Youth Ambassador Scheme
(YAS) was implemented for youths aged 10-15
|
| 1999 |
A 3-year 'Disaster Medical
Assistant' training course was introduced to AMS members of the Operations
Wing so as to enhance their first aid skill.
The China Airline MD-11 Jetliner, while landing the Chek Lap Kok Airport
on 22.8.1999, was pitched and eventually overturned by typhoon "SAM"
leaving 3 passengers dead and many others injured. AMS members on
notification by FSCC, immediately rushed to the scene bringing with
them all the necessary medical equipment to rescue the injured passengers.
|
| 2002 |
AMS First Aid Bicycle Team was set-up to provide first aid service to injured bicycle riders on cycling track.
|
| 2003 |
Dr. P.Y. Lam succeeded Dr. Margaret Chan as Commissioner of AMS.
During the SARS outbreak, the AMS assisted the Department of Health by mobilizing members for the duty at the Airport, land and sea borders, designated medical centers, temporary isolation camps as well as residential blocks under the mandatory surveillance programme. Moreover, the AMS provided non-emergency ambulance transfer service to SARS patients by taking them to designated hospitals for treatment.
The "Disaster Medical Assistant Training Manual" was edited and published.
|
| 2004 |
Invited experts from the mainland, Macao as well as local experts to attend the Disaster Medicine Management Symposium held by the AMS. Six emergency disaster incidents rescue government departments took part in the Symposium.
Assisted the Department of Health to set up a Health Protection Team that consists of AMS members having received training in Infectious Disease. The aim is to provide human resources to deal with future infectious disease duties.
AMS launched a uniform changing plan for members.
AMS joinly co-ordinated a function of AMS Blood Donation Day cum Open Day with HK Red Cross to activate a sequences of activities for celebrate the 55th Anniversary of AMS.
AMS Overseas Rescue Team was mobilized to Thailand to provide assistance for rescue operation in the Southern Asia Tsunami.
|
| 2005 |
An AMS Volunteer Group and A Community Health Education Group were set up with aims to promote knowledge of first-aid and community health education by deploying medical officers, nurses, first-aid instructors and members to conduct free of charged first-aid talks and health talks for the public and the local organizations.
During the MC6 of the World Trade Organization held in Hong Kong, AMS mobilized members on duty at the venues of the conference, Airport and strategic locations to provide first-aid coverage and paramedical service for the Conference.
|
| 2006 |
The first AMS Senior Officers' Management Training Workshop was held at Zhuhai, China in April. Including all the top management, there was altogether 61 senior officers taking part in this Workshop.
AMS celebrated its 55th anniversary.
Manuals of "Basic Nursing Skill" and "Our Victory Over Infections" were edited and published.
AMS Building Healthy City Committee was set up to promote healthy group developed in different community areas in Hong Kong.
AMS proceeded to ZhouShan and WuHan, China to attend knowledge exchange seminars.
|
| 2007 |
AMS Health Protection Unit was established.
The post of Assistant Commissioner is re-named as Senior Assistant Commissioner.
|