XN000022-1975-04-12 — Page 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1975

A LEADING PART IN THIS PRECAUTIONARY EFFORT IS PLAYED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS AN EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTRE FOR DEALING WITH DAMAGE TO HIGHWAYS AND DRAINS DURING TYPHOONS AND "HEAVY RAINS. THE CENTRE HAS A DIRECT RADIO LINK WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, WITH WHICH IT WORKS IN CLOSE LIAISON.

DANGER AND DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS COME UNDER THE CARE OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE, WHOSE STAFF ARE LIKEWISE GEARED UP TO WORK ON A NON-STOP BASIS DURING EMERGENCIES. ESPECIALLY INVOLVED ARE THE SURVEYORS OF THE DANGEROUS BUILDINGS DIVISION AND THE ENGINEERS OF THE OFFICE'S CIVIL ENGINEERING DIVISION WHO HANDLE SITE STABILITY PROBLEMS.

HEAVY WIND AND RAIN CAN INTERFERE WITH ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS AND SOMEONE HAS TO SEE THAT ESSENTIAL POWER EQUIPMENT IS KEPT GOING IN HOSPITALS AT THE AIRPORT AND IN OTHER KEY INSTALLATIONS. THIS IS THE JOB OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE, WHOSE EMERGENCY CREWS SPEED TO DEAL WITH SUCH PROBLEMS IN VEHICLES LOADED WITH SANDBAGS TO KEEP THEM ON FROM +TAKING OFF+ IN HIGH WINDS.

ON THE QUESTION OF HOW A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT DURING EMERGENCIES TO REPORT A SEEMING POINT OF DANGER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT NORMALLY BY FAR THE BEST WAY WAS THROUGH THE POLICE - BY DIALLING 999.

+OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE FORCE ARE EXPERIENCED IN CLASSIFYING THESE REPORTS AND KNOW JUST HOW TO PASS THEM ON QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT MAN IN P.W.D.+, HE ADDED.

ALTERNATIVELY, A MAJOR THREAT TO HIGHWAYS COULD BE REPORTED DIRECT TO THE EMERGENCY CONTROL SYSTEM IN HIGHWAYS OFFICE. THE NUMBERS DURING TYPHOON PERIODS ARE :-

HONG KONG ISLAND

KOWLOON

5-251111 E. 2260 AND E. 2206

3-011531

NEW TERRITORIES ............ 3-014929

TO THESE HAS BEEN ADDED A NEW DIRECT LINE FOR HONG KONG ISLAND, FOR USE DURING EMERGENCIES ONLY, ON 5-252413.

IN THE CASE OF POTENTIAL DANGER TO BUILDINGS, REPORTS DURING EMERGENCIES CAN BE MADE TO 5-251111.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT THESE P.W.D. NUMBERS SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN THE CASE OF A REALLY SERIOUS SITUATION ARISING. +CONTACT THROUGH THE POLICE IS MUCH PREFERRED, SINCE A SERIES OF CALLS ON A P.W.D. NUMBER CAN HAVE THE EFFECT OF BLOCKING A VITAL LINK WITH THE POLICE AND WITH OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES.+

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT FOR THE DEPARTMENT PREVENTION OF STORM DAMAGE IS REALLY A YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY SINCE MUCH CAN BE DONE IN THE DRY SEASON TO IMPROVE HONG KONG'S DEFENCES IN THE FOLLOWING WET ONE.

+BUT WE ARE NATURALLY INTENSIFYING OUR PRECAUTIONS AT THIS TIME. AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT, WITH THE PUBLIC'S HELP, WE SHALL BE ENTERING THIS RAINY SEASON BETTER ARMOURED AGAINST AVOIDABLE DAMAGE THAN EVER BEFORE.+

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