|香港政府 GIS 新聞處
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, JULY 11, 1976.
WORK OF VARIOUS GOV'T DEPARTMENTS DURING TYPHOON
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THE HOISTING OF A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNAL MAY MEAN A QUIET, RESTFUL DAY AT HOME TO THE AVERAGE MAN, BUT FOR OFFICERS OF MANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES,
IT MEANS SWINGING INTO FULL ALERT AND STEPPING UP PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
WHEN A STORM GETS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A THREAT, DEPARTMENTS WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATE THEIR EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS AND OFFICERS REPORT FOR DUTY, GEARED UP TO DEAL WITH ANY EVENTUALITY.
LONG BEFORE THIS AND WELL BEFORE THE START OF THE TYPHOON SEASON EVERY YEAR, DETAILED CONTINGENCY PLANS AND COMPREHENSIVE WARNING SYSTEMS ARE DRAWN UP SO THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. THIS ENSURES THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF ALL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TO GIVE MAXIMUM PROTECTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
FOR PEOPLE WHOSE HOMES MAY BE ENDANGERED, THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CAN, AT VERY SHORT NOTICE, SET UP A CHAIN OF 115 TEMPORARY SHELTERS WHICH CAN BETWEEN THEM ACCOMMODATE MORE THAN 22,000 PEOPLE.
THESE CENTRES ARE OPEN ONCE THE NUMBER 8 STORM WARNING SIGNAL IS UP AND ANYONE CAN STAY THERE UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO RETURN HOME.
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ALSO GOES ON ALERT WHENEVER THERE IS A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING, PARTICULARLY WHEN HONG KONG'S LARGE FLEET OF FISHING VESSELS AND JÚNKS ARE RETURNING TO BASE.
PATROL LAUNCHES INSPECT ALL TYPHOON SHELTERS TO ENSURE THAT BOATS ARE SAFELY SHELTERED AND THAT FIRE LANES AND FAIRWAYS ARE NOT BLOCKED. SPACES ARE ALSO RESERVED FOR CROSS HARBOUR FERRIES BECAUSE THEY ARE USUALLY THE LAST TO CEASE OPERATION.
AS LONG AS WEATHER CONDITIONS PERMIT, FAST LAUNCH PATROLS THE HARBOUR TO OFFER ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY ADVICE TO OCEAN-GOING VESSELS. IF A SHIP IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE, THE DEPARTMENT'S PORT COMMUNICATION CENTRE ACTS AS THE CO-ORDINATOR OF ANY SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION. GOVERNMENT VESSELS INCLUDING MARINE POLICE LAUNCHES, FIREBOATS, AND NAVY CRAFT MAY ALSO BE CALLED IN TO HELP.
/THE GOVERNMENT
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
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