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In response to media enquiries regarding the Daya Bay Contingency Plan (DBCP) Exercise, a Government spokesman said today (March 19) that a comprehensive exercise was conducted in 2001. As a matter of fact, the part of the exercise involving public participation is the test on the Government's capability in massive evacuation and decontamination of nuclear pollution. In this regard, large-scale exercises involving public participation were conducted before the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events and 2009 East Asian Games. Various Government departments, including the Police, Fire Services Department (FSD), Civil Aid Service (CAS), Auxiliary Medical Service, Department of Health (DH) and Hospital Authority etc, participated in the two exercises. An international expert also joined as an observer.
Besides, the Government also conducts different kinds of inter-departmental exercises from time to time, at least once a year, to test the readiness and capability of Government departments in emergency response, for example, monitoring the level of radiation in the atmosphere. Departments involved include the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), FSD, Government Flying Service and CAS. Communication tests are also conducted by the Security Bureau, HKO, DH, and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department every month to ensure that there will be effective communication among parties involved in case of emergencies. HKO also works with CLP and the Prevention and Emergency Administrative Commission Office of Guangdong Province for Nuclear Accident of Civil Nuclear Facility to test the transmission of radioactivity data every month. Drills are also carried out every quarter.
The spokesman said in view of the growing concern of the public on nuclear radiation, the Government has scheduled to conduct a comprehensive exercise in respect of the DBCP early next year.
Ends/Saturday, March 19, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:46
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