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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday) :

Question:

Regarding the relief actions taken by the Government for the residents in Northern New Territories when flooding occurs, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the actions that will be taken by the Administration when it is anticipated that flooding will soon occur in Northern New Territories, as well as the actions that will be taken after the Hong Kong Observatory has issued flood announcements for areas in Northern New Territories; and

(b) whether regular reviews of the effectiveness of these actions have been conducted; if so, what the results of the reviews are?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) keeps a 24-hour continuous watch on the weather in and around Hong Kong. When rain clouds affect Hong Kong, the HKO will analyse the rainfall distribution based on the latest rainfall data obtained from weather radar and rain gauges. When serious flooding is anticipated particularly in the low-lying plains of the Northern New Territories, a Special Announcement on Flooding in the Northern New Territories (SAF) will be issued by the HKO.

A SAF will be broadcast to the public through the electronic media. It will also be updated at regular intervals until heavy rain ceases.

Upon notification of a SAF, relevant Government departments and organisations will stand ready and consider the need for appropriate actions such as closure of individual schools, opening of temporary shelters, arrangements for emergency rescue operations and other relief work. Specific actions undertaken by the Government departments are summarised as follows:

(i) Hong Kong Observatory:

vigilantly monitors the weather condition and updates its SAF for relevant Government departments and the general public through the electronic media;

(ii) Drainage Services Department (DSD): monitors the water level of flood prone areas in the Northern New Territories where 13 river stage gauges have been installed at strategic locations, such as the Shenzhen River, River Beas and River Indus. Should any river stage exceed the alarm level, the DSD will alert the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Home Affairs Department (HAD), and inform the HKO. Furthermore, the Department's Mainland North Region Emergency Storm and Damage Organisation will be activated. At least two teams of the DSD and contractor staff will stand ready in Yuen Long and North Districts to clear blocked drains, if necessary;

(iii) Home Affairs Department, North and Yuen Long District Offices:

liaise closely with villagers through their village representatives and provide temporary shelters. The two District Offices work closely with the FSD, the Police and the DSD in case evacuation and other rescue operations may be required. Upon receipt of a flood alert notice, the District Office staff will attend the scene and co-ordinate the provision of necessary relief services as required. The District Emergency Co-ordination Centre will also be activated in case of severe flooding;

(iv) Fire Services Department, the Police, Government Flying Service (GFS), Civil Aid Service (CAS):

provide evacuation and rescue services for flood victims, and emergency treatment to casualties before their conveyance to hospitals.

The FSD will deploy special rescue and ambulance resources including eight dinghies in fire stations close to the flood prone areas in the Northern New Territories to expedite emergency response to possible flood incidents. Furthermore, a Forward Command Post may be established in the nearest fire station to enhance the command and control of rescue operations and to facilitate effective mobilisation of emergency resources.

The Police will make available boats and rescue crafts in response to flood incidents. Police Command Posts will be set up at flood scenes to enhance communication with the Police Regional Command and Control Centre and Divisional Headquarters. It will also take appropriate actions such as closing road, directing traffic, disseminating information to relevant parties, etc.

The GFS will reserve three helicopters for performing air surveillance over flooded areas and assisting in rescue operations.

A total of four flood rescue teams with rescue crafts will be made available by the CAS. They will standby at the Sheung Shui Fire Station and the CAS Fanling and Yuen Long District Headquarters to facilitate rescue operations as required;

(v) Information Services Department (ISD), Transport Department (TD):

help disseminate the SAF and traffic related information to Government departments, news media and public transport operators.

The ISD is also responsible for sending out other public announcements through the media, including advice to flood victims awaiting rescue and relief measures; and

(vi) Social Welfare Department (SWD):

provides temporary shelters and emergency relief services in co-operation with the HAD.

Local villagers and members of the public in general are regualrly advised on the precautionary measures they should take and useful emergency telephone numbers they may use through a booklet on Weather Warnings and Precautionary Measures and a pamphlet on the Special Announcement on Flooding in the Northern New Territories distributed through the District Offices. District Offices concerned will inform the rural committees and village representatives of the precautionary measures to be taken in case of flooding. The Education Department will also keep schools in the Northern New Territories on the alert and remind them of the need to make timely arrangements for school closure based on the advice of the HKO and the DSD.

(b) Regular reviews have been and will continue to be conducted both by individual departments and at an inter-departmental level with a view to further improving the arrangements for flood rescue operations and emergency relief services. For example, the HKO keeps its weather monitoring and warning services under regular review. Indeed, the SAF system, newly introduced this year, was the result of the HKO's review of the Rainstorm Warning System last year. Arrangements for the SAF will be brought under the HKO's annual review to be conducted at the end of the year.

Pursuant to each major flood rescue operation, the Security Bureau will conduct a joint review with departments concerned of the emergency response by the departments and co-ordination of the rescue and relief arrangements to identify areas for improvement.

A case in point was the extensive flooding in the Northern New Territories on May 24, 1998. The joint review among the Government departments and related organisations has confirmed the effectiveness of the emergency response by parties concerned, but proposed further improvements to the communication network to facilitate the prompt updating of weather information to the rescue services. Recommendations arising from the joint review have since been put in place.

Major findings of these reviews will be incorporated into the Hong Kong Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters, which prescribes the responsibilities of individual Government departments and related organisations in response to adverse weather conditions such as typhoon and flood warning. The Contingency Plan is subject to annual review after the rainy season.

End/Wednesday, November 11, 1998

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