XN000022-1982-06-16 — Page 9

WEDNESDA L

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SIR PHILIP DISCLOSED THAT WHILE THERE ARE A FEW DETAILS STILL TO BE SETTLED, IT IS INTENDED FORMALLY TO ESTABLISH THE NEW BRANCH AND SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS ON AUGUST 1, 1982.

*THERE WILL BE NO NET INCREASE IN STAFF, HE STATED, AND THERE WILL BE A REVIEW, IN PERHAPS 12 MONTHS TIME, TO SEE HOW DEFEDERALISATION HAS WORKED IN PRACTICE AND WHAT ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE.+

WEATHER WARNING SYSTEMS RE-EXAMINED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS RE-EXAMINING ITS PUBLIC WARNING SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES FOLLOWING THE RECENT RAIN STORMS WHICH LED TO LOSS OF LIFE AND HOMES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE_COUNCIL, MR DAVIES SAID NO FIRM CONCLUSION HAD BEEN REACHED ON THE ADEQUACY OF THE PUBLIC WARNINGS ISSUED BEFORE AND DURING THE TRAGIC INCIDENTS.

+ IT IS THE PRACTICE AFTER UNFORTUNATE EVENTS OF THIS SORT FOR AN URGENT EXAMINATION TO BE MADE TO SEE THE EXTENT TO WHICH EXISTING PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED, TO IDENTIFY ANY SHORTCOMINGS AND DECIDE WHAT, IF ANY, IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES CAN BE MADE.

+THIS IS NOW BEING DONE,+ MR DAVIES ADDED.

HE SAID THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS WERE ISSUED AND REGULAR WEATHER FORECASTS WERE MADE DURING THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO THE HEAVY RAINS. THESE WARNINGS WERE DISSEMINATED IN THE USUAL WAY TO THE NEWS MEDIA THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS ALSO MADE THAT PERSONS WHO WISHED TO LEAVE THE IR HOMES FOR SAFETY BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAIN COULD GO TO SHELTERS WHICH HAD BEEN OPENED, HE SAID.

+WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT, INCLUDING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT 653 MM OF RAIN FELL IN THE FOUR-DAY PERIOD (THE FIFTH HIGHEST ON RECORD), WE ARE LOOKING AGAIN AT OUR SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO TRY AND ASSIST THE PUBLIC IN SITUATIONS OF THIS SORT, MR DAVIES SAID.