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The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), in partnership with key industry players from various sectors, today (July 10) launched the largest ever public education campaign of its kind to promote electrical and mechanical safety territory-wide .
With an aim of enhancing the community's awareness of the safety and good practices in the use of electrical appliances and installations, gas appliances, lifts and escalators as well as the importance of energy efficiency, the "E&M Safety Campaign" comprises a line-up of publicity and community activities spanning six months from July to December.
The campaign, officially launched at a ceremony by the Secretary for Economics Services, Ms Sandra Lee, represents a collaborative effort between EMSD and 15 leading local organisations from the utility, public transport, housing and estate management sectors as well as trade associations in the electrical and mechanical field.
The 15 organisations are: the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Caltex Oil Hong Kong Limited, China Resources Gas Co., Ltd., CLP Power Hong Kong Limited, Esso Hong Kong Limited, the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, the Hongkong Electric Co., Ltd., the Hong Kong Housing Authority, Hong Kong L.P. Gas (Holdings) Ltd., the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, the Lift and Escalator Contractors Association, Mobil Oil Hong Kong Limited, the MTR Corporation, and Shell Hong Kong Limited.
"Over the years, we have been conducting E&M safety publicity programmes and we note that many major organisations also run their respective programmes. This year, we are particularly delighted to join forces with 15 leading organisations in Hong Kong," said Mr Roger S. H. Lai, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, at the launching ceremony.
Mr Lai believed the E&M Safety Campaign would benefit from the synergy and multiplier effect as a result of full support from key players of the various sectors concerned.
Mr Lai added: "We hope to send a message loud and clear to the public, and that is, industry and the Government are in unison in their commitment to making Hong Kong one of the safest and best cities to live in."
Mr Lai noted that territory-wide surveys conducted in the past two years revealed that the general awareness of E&M safety ranged from 70 per cent to well over 90 per cent, and that public education and publicity programmes should target teenagers and parents for maximum impact. It is against this background that EMSD, working in concert with other key industry players, developed the E&M Safety Campaign.
The Campaign consists of three episodes, each lasting for two months and with different focus: Lifts and Escalators Safety, Electrical Safety and Energy Efficiency, and Gas Safety.
The first episode on Lifts and Escalators Safety already launched a Safety Ambassador Recruitment initiative in June. Volunteers from the general public are being trained to provide community service at key venues.
The second episode on Electrical Safety and Energy Efficiency will feature a territory-wide home-visit, offering households free electrical safety checking and conducting energy efficiency survey.
The Gas Safety episode will deploy hundreds of outreach staff from participating organisations to bring the safety messages to households throughout the territory.
Other programmes in the pipeline include roving exhibitions, safety seminars and quizzes, and variety shows on television.
Concurrently, EMSD is running a series of road shows at secondary schools throughout Hong Kong to convey the safety messages to teenagers direct.
Mr Lai hoped the Campaign would help EMSD realise the department's long-term vision of making Hong Kong a top-ranking city in E&M safety and in the utilisation of energy.
End/Tuesday, July 10, 2001
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