Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
LCQ3: Marine fire-fighting and rescue
*************************************

     Following is a question by the Hon Steven Ho and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):

Question:

     It has been reported that a number of fires occurred at the typhoon shelters of Hong Kong in recent years, resulting in the burning down of a number of fishing vessels, including a hang trawler which was ravaged by fire near Castle Peak Bay on the 21st of last month.  Quite a number of fishermen have expressed concern about marine fire safety, particularly a surge in fire hazards during the fishing moratorium and certain festivals (e.g. the Lunar New Year, Tin Hau Festival as well as Spring and Autumn Ancestral Offerings Ceremonies) when a large number of fishing vessels are berthed close to each other at the typhoon shelters.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1)  of the respective average response times for fireboats to arrive at various typhoon shelters to fight fire in the past three years, with a breakdown by typhoon shelter;

(2) as some fishermen have repeatedly relayed to me that their lives and properties lack protection due to insufficient fire-fighting equipment in typhoon shelters, whether the Fire Services Department (FSD) will, before the next peak season of fishing vessels berthing at typhoon shelters, expeditiously put in place more effective fire-fighting measures (e.g. deploying fireboats to station round the clock at typhoon shelters, ports and bays where fire hazards are high and inspecting whether the existing marine fire-fighting equipment is in good functionality); if FSD will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as the implementation of a number of major infrastructure projects (e.g. the construction of an artificial island for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the expansion of the airport into a three-runway system) and the designation of a new marine park in the waters of the New Territory West (NTW) will create constraints to the accessibility of the waters, whether FSD has assessed if fireboats can promptly arrive in the NTW waters where a fire has broken out to fight fire, particularly in the vicinity of the Castle Peak Bay Typhoon Shelter; whether FSD will enhance the marine fire-fighting equipment in the NTW waters or make appropriate deployment to address the fire hazards that may arise in the next peak season of fishing vessels berthing at typhoon shelters; if FSD will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply¡G

President,

     The Fire Services Department (FSD) reviews from time to time its overall marine fire-fighting and rescue strategies in Hong Kong as well as the related equipment.  FSD conducts risk assessment for different water areas, taking into account factors including the distribution of vessels, utilisation of shipping channels, existence of high risk facilities at sea and along coastal areas etc., in deciding the location of fireboat stations and deployment of fire vessels (i.e. fireboats and fire speedboats).  Upon receiving a fire call relating to vessels in Hong Kong waters, the Fire Services Communications Centre will, having regard to the circumstances, despatch the fireboats and fire speedboats nearest the incident scene to handle the fire.  In addition, the nearby on-shore fire stations will deploy fire appliances to provide speedy support.

     My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:

(1) The average response times of FSD's fire vessels (including fireboats and fire speedboats) in handling marine fire calls at various typhoon shelters in the past three years are set out at the Annex.

(2) During peak seasons including the fishing moratorium and important festive periods, fishing vessels return to berth at typhoon shelters.  The fire risks of the typhoon shelters may consequently increase as fishing vessels are densely anchored therein.  FSD will therefore step up patrol along the shipping channels within the shelters, and conduct fire drills in the shelters before the fishing moratorium and the Lunar New Year every year in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Marine Department (MD), so as to enhance the efficiency in fire-fighting and rescue operations and strengthen the co-ordination among relevant departments in response to marine fires.  

     In view of the fire risk assessment of the Tuen Mun Typhoon Shelter (TMTS) during peak seasons, FSD has specially deployed a fire speedboat to stand by in the TMTS at night since July 2012.  This enables the fire speedboat to swiftly pass through the narrow shipping channels inside the shelter and arrive at the incident scene for fire-fighting and rescue operations in cases of emergency.  FSD has turned this stand-by arrangement to a round-the-clock one with effect from January 2013.

     On publicity and public education, FSD has been organising thematic talks on fire prevention through fishermen groups, MD and different District Offices.  These talks aim to remind fishermen of the precautions when using and maintaining electrical installations on vessels and to teach them the correct way to use a fire extinguisher etc., with a view to enhancing their fire safety awareness.  FSD also conducts regular checks on its fire vessels and their fire-fighting equipment to ensure that they are in good working condition at all times.

(3) FSD patrols different water areas in Hong Kong and assesses their overall fire risks from time to time.  As regards the waters of the New Territories West, FSD considers that the various major infrastructure projects in progress and under planning will not affect the navigation or rescue operations of the fireboats and fire speedboats in that water area.

     To facilitate the construction of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link project, the existing Tuen Mun Fireboat Station located at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal will be re-provisioned to the waterfront at the North Portal of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Sub-sea Tunnel Section.  By then, FSD¡¦s fire vessels will continue to strategically cover for the north-westerly waters in Hong Kong and the TMTS.

     FSD will continue to closely monitor various developments in Hong Kong waters and assess the fire risks from time to time.  It will review the deployment of fire service resources and operational strategies on a regular basis and make appropriate arrangements in the light of the needs of individual water areas or periods.  FSD will also continue to strengthen its fire safety publicity and educational efforts at the typhoon shelters to enhance the fire safety awareness of fishermen for fire prevention purpose.

Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:33

NNNN

Print this page