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Government's emergency response system explained
The acting Secretary for Security, Mrs Carrie Yau, said today (Wednesday) that the Government Secretariat Emergency Co-ordination Centre (GSECC) was opened only when the scale of response required was likely to be in excess of that which could be dealt with by the emergency services under their normal operating conditions.
In a written reply to a question by the Hon Chan Kam-lam in the Legislative Council, Mrs Yau said the Government's emergency response system was built upon professional, well-trained disciplined services staff (primarily Fire Services and Police), on call 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.
"The Government's emergency services are mobilised by departmental command and communication centres (CCCs) operating 24 hours a day.
"Through these CCCs, the emergency services involving different departments and agencies are well coordinated to provide the necessary response in most emergencies," she said.
As for GSECC, Mrs Yau pointed out that it was required to operate in situations which were usually of a territory wide nature (for example, rainstorms) to facilitate inter-departmental liaison; and to ensure all relevant information was gathered centrally to facilitate any decision to be made in the Government Secretariat
as necessary.
In the case of the Pat Sin Leng hill fire, she said that as it was largely a localised incident, the Fire Services Communication Centre (FSCC) quickly involved the Police, Civil Aid Services, Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Government Flying Service (GFS), Auxiliary Medical Services, the Hospital Authority, Information Services Department, Education Department, Social Welfare Department and the Home Affairs Department.
She stressed that to provide an effective and efficient response to emergencies, it was essential to keep emergency command and communication systems as simple as possible.
"The Security Branch Duty Officer was informed by the FSCC and the Secretary for Security was kept informed through this channel and through his talks. directly with the Director of Fire Services.