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The Government will conduct an inter-departmental communication exercise on Thursday (November 24) to review the efficiency of the co-operation among various departments and organizations in case of a flu pandemic.
The one-day exercise, code-named Poplar, is organised by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and more than 30 bureaux, departments and organisations will participate.
More than 220 players, including the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang and the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, will take part in the drill.
A CHP spokesman said that no ground movements would be involved as the focus of the exercise would be on communication among the Emergency Response Centre of the CHP and the various command and communication centres of the departments involved.
"The format of this communication exercise is similar to drills generally adopted in the international community to test co-operation and communication among the stakeholders for a specific situation," the spokesman said.
He added that the exercise would provide an opportunity for the Government and other parties concerned to put into practice their respective preparedness plans for combat communicable disease.
"We hope that the adequacy of contingency operational protocols formulated by the stakeholders concerned will be reviewed during the exercise."
"Shortcomings identified could be fine-tuned so as to further gear up Hong Kong's preparedness before a real attack," the spokesman added.
Ends/Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:16
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