12
SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS
12.1 Introduction
Previous sections have described the facilities required to collect and assess radiological data, and the processes involved in making decisions on applying countermeasures to protect the public.
The monitoring and sampling programme will involve a number of government departments and other agencies with experience in radiation measurements, and will be co-ordinated by staff of the Royal Observatory at the Monitoring and Assessment Centre who will carry out an assessment of the incoming information. Decisions on actions to protect the public will be taken at the Civil Control Centre set up and staffed by the Security Branch assisted by liaison officers from the supporting organisations (see Chapter 6).
The Government Information Services Department will take the primary role in informing and advising members of the public, through the media, of the situation and of any necessary precautions, and issuing official communiques on the progress of operations. The role of the Government Information Services is described in Chapters 6 and 11.
Outside the central emergency organisation described above a number of supporting facilities will be required, particularly if the effects of the accident are serious enough to require the implementation of countermeasures in Hong Kong, in respect of sheltering and control of food or water.
The organisations which will provide these supporting facilities are likely to include:
Royal Hong Kong Police Force;
Agriculture and Fisheries Department;
Hong Kong Fire Services;
Civil Aid Services;
Transport Department;
Water Supplies Department;
Medical and Health Department;
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force;
Municipal Services Branch;
Environmental Protection Department;
City and New Territories Administration;
Social Welfare Department.
It is important that these organisations should draw up standing orders covering the mobilisation of staff, communications, and equipment required in the event of an emergency arising from an accident at the Daya Bay site.
12.2 The Responsibilities of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force
General
The police have detailed plans for dealing with a major disaster due, for example, to climatic conditions or fires. The emergency plans for these disasters reflect the fact that the police may be involved in dealing with casualties or loss of life. This would not be the case in the event of an emergency caused by an accident at Daya Bay. In the very worst circumstances it is envisaged that the short-term consequences would be limited to advising to the public in some areas of Hong Kong to shelter for several hours, and that subsequently an intensive operation of monitoring and control of foodstuffs would be mounted. However, it should be recognised that, since the police would be involved in ensuring the implementation of decisions on early countermeasures, there could be great pressure on police resources during an emergency caused by a radioactive release.
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