situation of sheltering being advised in some area of Hong Kong, it is possible that rapid implementation would be desirable. This would require people to shelter where they were at the time (in factories, offices, schools, etc.), rather than returning home as in the case of a typhoon warning. It is important that the implementation of sheltering should not lead to widespread panic, giving rise to more serious risks than the longer-term health effects which the countermeasure is designed to minimise. For this reason, the advice of the police through their representative in the Civil Control Centre is essential when the timing and extent of sheltering is being considered by the Controller. Depending on the time of an incident, the decision to implement sheltering could arise in a number of different situations, for example:-
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
At night, when the majority of the population would be at home, but warnings to close doors and windows
would need to be effected.
During the day, when many people would be at work and children at school, in which case it would be advisable that they should stay there.
During morning and evening rush hours when many people would be travelling, and it would be advisable for those in transit to complete their journey, while those who had not set out should remain where they were. At weekends and public holidays, etc., when many people are out of doors away from home. In places where large crowds are gathered, ad hoc arrangements should be devised to get them under cover by use of local facilities, (schools, community centres) etc.
The Police Standing Order should cover arrangements for all such situations.
In the case of squatter areas being affected the transfer of the population to emergency shelters would be advisable. Emergency shelters should be identified in advance, and listed in the Police Standing Order.
A warning to the public to shelter would be effected by the use of vehicles fitted with public address systems and by announcements by radio and television stations. It is important that the message to the public should be consistent for all channels of communication. It should briefly state the reason for the emergency, clearly specify the areas affected, and advise the public to stay indoors with doors and windows shut and with ventilation systems turned off, or, if out of doors, to take shelter as soon as possible, (see Section 9.7). The messages should state the sources from which people can receive further information, for example the relevant radio and television stations, and should explain that advice will be given when it is safe to go outside again and resume normal activities.
The police will be provided with a prepared statement from the Government Information Services, in which details such as areas affected will be given, (see Section 11.3). Copies of the pro forma should be appended to the Police Standing Order.
Arrangements should be made for the police to establish close liaison with the Transport Department in the event of sheltering being advised, so that police assistance can be deployed at points where large numbers of the public may be gathered (eg railway stations) when services are curtailed. The police will need to direct passengers to suitable local shelters. Such shelters should be identified in advance.
(v)
Liaison at the Civil Control Centre
The Royal Hong Kong Police will provide a Senior Officer as Police Liaison Officer at the Civil Control Centre, (CCC). In addition to providing the main line of communication between the CCC and Police Headquarters, he will advise the CCC Controller on any constraints which might affect a decision to implement countermeasures, particularly sheltering. From information received through Police Headquarters, he will inform the Controller on the progress of implementation of sheltering and on any serious problems which arise.
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