XN000022-1976-07-11 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, JULY 11, 1976

THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED SO THAT ADVANCE PRECAUTIONS CAN BE TAKEN, ALSO GO ON FULL ALERT.

IF THE SITUATION SO WARRANTS, GIS WILL WORK AND RTHK BROADCAST ROUND THE CLOCK.

LATEST STORM INFORMATION AND PRECAUTIONARY ADVICE ISSUED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY ARE DISTRIBUTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE MEDIA THROUGH THE GIS NETWORK OF TELEPRINTER AND FASCIMILE. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE LATEST TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND EVENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST ARE ALSO 13SUED CONTINUOUSLY BY GIS,

OTHER DEPARTMENTS GOING ON ALERT INCLUDE THE FIRE SERVICES WHICH HELPS OUT IN RESCUE WORK AS WELL AS FIGHT FIRES- THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHICH TAKES CARE OF THE INJURED THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WHICH PROVIDES RELIEF, SHELTER AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO COUNTRY PEOPLE THE POLICE WHICH MAINTAIN ROAD COMMUNICATIONS AND TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WHICH REPAIRS DAMAGE TO ROADS, BUILDINGS AND DRAINS THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOOD AND OTHER RELIEF, AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WHICH GIVES TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION TO PEOPLE MADE HOMELESS.

PLAYING AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT ROLE DURING EMERGENCIES ARE THE AUXILIARY SERVICES INCLUDING THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES, THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE.

MEMBERS OF THE C.A.S. CAN BE CALLED OUT TO HELP TO CLEAN ROADS AND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, TO EVACUATE CASUALTIES, TO CARRY URGENT DISPATCHES AND TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD AND OTHER RELIEF ARTICLES TO STORM VICTIMS WHILE A.M.S. MEMBERS ARE MOBILISED TO STAFF EMERGENCY AMBULANCES IN FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S AMBULANCE DEPOTS.

AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE CAN BE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY ONCE STORM WARNING NUMBER 3 IS UP, AND MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT, TOGETHER WITH THOSE OF THE ARMED FORCES, CAN BE QUICKLY MOBILISED TO FORM RESCUE PARTIES, FIRST AID TEAMS, EMERGENCY TREATMENT UNITS, OR TO SUPPORT THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES IN CLEARING ROAD, FIGHTING FIRES AND HANDING OUT RELIEF.

VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE HONG KONG RED CROSS AND THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE ARE ALSO ON STANDBY AND CAN BE CALLED IN TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE.

RESPONSIBLE FOR DIRECTING AND CO-ORDINATING ALL THESE EFFORTS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AUXILIARY SERVICES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IS THE CIVIL CO-ORDINATION CENTRE, WHICH IS USUALLY ACTIVATED WHEN TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING NUMBER 8 OR HIGHER IS HOISTED.

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