The Fire Services Department (FSD) held the Winter Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Promotional Months launching ceremony and Fire Services Department Community Emergency Responder (FSDCER) award ceremony at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin today (November 1). The event officially commenced a series of winter disaster preparedness promotional activities, while a number of organisations actively promoting the FSDCER scheme in the community were commended.

     This year, three techniques on emergency preparedness, namely "seal the door and wait for rescue", "put on fire escape hoods for protection", and "detection and early warning", are featured areas of the Promotional Months. Members of the public are encouraged to learn skills of sealing door gaps with adhesive tapes and wearing fire escape hoods to filter smoke and hazardous gases, so as to stay safe when waiting for rescue at home in cases of infeasible fire evacuation. They can also install stand-alone fire detectors to receive early alert and make a timely escape when a fire breaks out. At the event, the FSD targeted to enhance public awareness of disaster and emergency preparedness through door-sealing demonstrations, fire escape hood and stand-alone fire detector displays, interactive exhibition areas, booth games, and more.

     Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Public Safety and Corporate Strategy), Mr Wong Ka-wing, expressed his gratitude to the 18 District Fire Safety Committees for strengthening community efforts in promoting disaster and emergency preparedness education. Under the co-ordination of the Fire Services Department Community Collaboration Network, all districts have successfully met the target set in key performance indicators (KPIs) for public safety strategy and made a remarkable achievement. The KPIs concerned include efforts in promoting fire safety information to residents of buildings with potential risks of fire hazards, assisting residents to install stand-alone fire detectors, and distributing "The Three Treasures for Fire Protection".

     Mr Wong said that over 6 500 citizens from various age groups and sectors have received training under the FSDCER scheme to grasp basic skills on firefighting, self-rescue and first aid. He thanked community groups and organisations for arranging their staff members to receive training, in support of the scheme. At the event, 17 organisations were presented with certificates at the FSDCER award ceremony in recognition of their contribution to promoting disaster preparedness across public and private sectors.

     Mr Wong emphasised that voting is a civic responsibility for every voter. He called on the public to cherish and cast their votes in the Legislative Council General Election on December 7, electing competent representatives to help turn Hong Kong into an even better home for everyone.

     Throughout the promotional months, the FSD will collaborate with various District Offices, District Fire Safety Committees, and community partners to host a range of disaster and emergency preparedness events including carnivals, fire station open days and publicity events at shopping malls. The FSD's mobile publicity vehicle will also tour the city to disseminate disaster and emergency preparedness messages to the public. Latest information of the activities will be available at the FSD's social media platforms and the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Mobile Application.

     The Winter Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Promotional Months is one of the key initiatives under the Fire Services Department's Disaster Management Programme funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, with an aim to enhance the community's resilience to disasters. The FSDCER Scheme is also funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Ends/Saturday, November 1, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:28

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