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Reporters go through radiation contamination screening process upon arrival in Hong Kong
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     Twenty-four reporters from a number of local media organisations covering the Japanese earthquake arrived in Hong Kong on four flights last night (March 14).

     The reporters were worried that they might have been contaminated by radiation as they had been reporting on news at Fukushima Prefecture or travelling past the area. They had therefore expressed, through their respective organisations to the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, their wishes of going through the radiation screening process right away upon arrival at the Hong Kong airport.  

     According to the Japanese Government, the area within a 20-kilometre radius of the Fukushima nuclear plant had been cordoned off and visitors were barred from entering the area. Hence, the risk of visitors contaminating from direct radiation should be fairly low.

     Nevertheless, in order to address concerns of these reporters and taking into account their special situation and request, the Government has arranged for them to go through the radiation screening process upon their arrival at the airport last night. The result was that none of them has been affected. The reporters left after the screening. The screening operation has not disrupted airport services. The Government expressed gratitude to airlines involved for making the appropriate arrangement.

     The Food and Health Bureau said that anyone, in particular those who had stayed in the areas near the northeastern part of Honshu in Japan in the past few days, could go to the Accident and Emergency Departments of public hospitals if they are concerned that they might have been contaminated. They can consult the medical staff or undergo a body check.

Ends/Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 00:49

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