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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992
STATEMENT BY CS TO LEGCO
ON GOVT'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE RAIN STORM
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MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT,
THE RAINSTORM WHICH STRUCK HONG KONG LAST FRIDAY MORNING WAS ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE EVER RECORDED IN THE TERRITORY. IN SOME PLACES
PARTICULARLY THE NORTH WESTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND OVER 300 MM OR 12 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN NINE HOURS. THE STORM BROUGHT IN ITS WAKE SERIOUS FLOODING, MORE THAN 175 LANDSLIPS, DISRUPTION TO OUR TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS AND, TRAGICALLY, THE LOSS OF FIVE LIVES. I AM SURE THAT I SPEAK FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL AND INDEED FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WHEN I SAY THAT THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO DIED HAVE OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY. WE SHARE THE SADNESS OF THE FAMILIES AND WE OFFER OUR CONDOLENCES ON THE LOSS OF THEIR DEAR ONES.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE INTENSITY AND SEVERITY OF THE STORM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORESEEN AND THAT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WERE FACED WITH A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. HAVING SAID THIS, I ACCEPT THAT THE STORM AND ITS AFTERMATH HAVE REVEALED SOME SHORTCOMINGS IN OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE MECHANISMS. WE HAVE MOVED QUICKLY TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS AND I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT WE ARE DETERMINED ΤΟ LEARN THE LESSONS. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TODAY ΤΟ ANNOUNCE THE FULL DETAILS OF HOW WE INTEND TO IMPROVE OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM, BUT I CAN EXPLAIN IN GENERAL TERMS WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO PUT IN PLACE.
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WE HAVE TO IMPROVE OUR ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO EMERGENCIES. BUT THESE RESPONSES MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE SO THAT WE AVOID ALARMING THE PUBLIC DISRUPTING THE DAILY LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY UNNECESSARILY, CLEARLY, WE DO NOT WANT A FULL SCALE EMERGENCY RESPONSE EVERY TIME WE GET HEAVY RAIN: BUT WE DO NEED A SYSTEM WHICH ALERTS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY ARE READY TO RESPOND ONCE IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT WE ARE FACING A MAJOR PROBLEM. OUR AIM IS THEREFORE A TWO STAGE ARRANGEMENT.
THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY WILL TRIGGER THE FIRST STAGE ON THE BASIS OF THEIR FORECASTING OF HEAVY RAINSTORMS LIKELY то AFFECT HONG KONG. IT WILL INVOLVE A SERIES OF WARNINGS TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEIR EMERGENCY RESPONSES CAN BE PUT IN PLACE QUICKLY. THIS IS MATTER OF PRIMING THE DEPARTMENTS AND MAKING ARE IN POSITION AND ALERT.
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TEAMS ESSENTIALLY
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