XN000022-1984-08-18 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1984

SPECIFIC AREAS WHICH THE WORKING GROUP WOULD BE EXAMINING CRITICALLY WOULD BE THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE MANNED PERMANENTLY, PROCEDURES TO ENSURE A QUICKER RESPONSE TO TRANSMISSIONS RELEASED FROM EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACONS, THE NEED FOR AN IMPROVED NIGHT-TIME SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITY, WAYS TO IMPROVE EXISTING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCIES, AND THE NEED, FOR FURTHER STAFF TRAINING IN SEARCH AND RESCUE PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES,

ONE AREA WHERE ACTION TO IMPROVE CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CONCERNED LIAISON BETWEEN THE HONG KONG SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCIES AND THE IR COUNTERPARTS IN GUANGDONG.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT WITH THE GROWTH IN SEA AND AIR TRAFFIC AROUND HONG KONG AND IN NEIGHBOURING CHINESE WATERS, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT THE AUTHORITIES ON BOTH SIDES KNEW EACH OTHER'S PROCEDURES AND CAPABILITIES IN AN EMERGENCY, AND WERE READY IF NECESSARY TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO ANY INCIDENT OCCURRING NEAR THE BOUNDARIES OF HONG KONG AND CHINESE WATERS.

TO THIS END THE WORK ING GROUP HAD, AS A FIRST STAGE, VISITED CANTON EARLY THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS WITH THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES, STANDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS IN THE AREA OF THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY BETWEEN HONG KONG AND MACAU, AND IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCIES. FURTHER MEETINGS AND VISITS WERE ENVISAGED.

MEANWHILE, AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL ALL THE HONG KONG AGENCIES DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS - MARINE AND CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENTS, MARINE POLICE, THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, ROYAL AIR FORCE AND ROYAL NAVY NOW MEET ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO COORDINATE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS ON SEARCH AND RESCUE MATTERS AND TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN.

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THIS LIAISON MACHINERY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENSURE FULL COOPERATION IN FUTURE BETWEEN THE VAR FOUS AGENCIES AT WORK ING LEVEL.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THIS LIAISON GROUP WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ANY OTHER AREAS WHERE ITS MEMBERS FELT THAT INADEQUACIES EXISTED OR IMPROVEMENTS WERE REQUIRED.

FOLLOWING THE OSPREY TRAGEDY, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAD IMPROVED ITS OWN CAPABILITIES TO REACT EFFECTIVELY TO SIMILAR EMERGENCIES IN THE FUTURE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

DETAILED PLANNING WAS IN HAND TO MOVE THE PORT COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE FROM ATOP THE RUMSEY STREET MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK BUILDING TO NEW ACCOMMODATION AT THE NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

THE EXISTING