XN000022-1980-05-11 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 11, 1980

GOVERNMENT WELL-PREPARED TO PROTECT LIFE AND

PROPERTY DURING TYPHOON SEASON

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WHEN A TROPICAL CYCLONE APPROACHES HONG KONG, MOST PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT A DAY OF REST AT HOME, BUT FOR OFFICERS OF MANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND MEMBERS OF AUXILIARY SERVICES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, IT MEANS SWINGING INTO FULL ALERT AND STEPPING UP PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

EACH YEAR, TROPICAL CYCLONES AND HEAVY RAINSTORMS THREATEN TO BRING DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE. BUT LOSSES ARE KEPT TO A MINIMUM, THANKS TO THE EFFORTS AND SPEEDY ACTION OF THESE PEOPLE.

AS A STORM GETS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A THREAT, DEPARTMENTS WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATE THEIR EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS AND OFFICERS WILL REPORT FOR DUTY, READY TO DEAL WITH ANY SITUATION.

LONG BEFORE THIS AND WELL BEFORE THE START OF THE TYPHOON SEASON EVERY YEAR. DETAILED CONTINGENCY PLANS AND COMPREHENSIVE WARNING SYSTEMS ARÉ 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.

THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS ARRANGED FOR THE OPENING OF 135 TEMPORARY SHELTERS TO HOUSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEEKING SAFE ACCOMMODATION DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE STORMS.

THESE SHELTERS CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE THAN 22 000 PEOPLE AND WILL BE OPEN WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NO 8 IS HOISTED. THE PUBLIC CAN CONTACT THEIR NEAREST CITY DISTRICT OFFICE IF SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE REQUIRED.

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.

DURING TYPHOONS AND SEVERE RAINSTORMS, THE GIS PRESSROOM BECOMES A COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE WHICH CO-ORDINATES INFORMATION AND, MAINLY THROUGH RADIO AND TELEVISION, KEEPS THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF LATEST STORM INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND EVENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

WHEN TYPHOON HOPE HIT HONG KONG IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, GIS STAFF SPENT SOME 1 500 MAN HOURS ON EMERGENCY DUTY IN THE PRESS ROOM AND AT VARIOUS KEY POSTS IN OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHICH WERE ALSO MANNED.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS A BUSY TIME WHENEVER THERE IS A TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING, PARTICULARLY WHEN HONG KONG'S LARGE FLEET OF FISHING VESSELS AND JUNKS ARE RETURNING TO THEIR BASE.

/THE DEPARTMENT'S