XN000022-1984-08-18 — Page 5

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1902

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THE EXISTING MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE AT RUMSEY STREET WOULD THEN EXPAND INTO THE VACATED PREMISES AS A SEPARATE UNIT.

THIS SEPARATION OF PORT CONTROL AND SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATION ACTIVITIES SHOULD ENSURE THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, SUCH AS A TYPHOON, COINCIDING WITH A SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION, ACTION ON BOTH EMERGENCIES COULD PROCEED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT CONFUSION,

MARINE OFFICERS WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PORT OF HONG KONG AND SURROUNDING WATERS WOULD NOT HAVE ALSO TO DEAL WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS OCCURRING ELSEWHERE.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO CALLS FROM VESSELS IN DISTRESS WOULD HENCEFORWARD BE COORDINATED SPECIFICALLY BY THE MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

TO ENSURE THAT THE STAFF SELECTED TO MAN THE CENTRE IN AN EMERGENCY WERE FULLY CONVERSANT WITH UP-TO-DATE SEARCH AND RESCUE PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES, THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOW ARRANGING FOR THE FORMAL TRAINING OF THOSE OFFICERS IDENTIFIED TO PERFORM SUCH DUTIES, IN ORDER TO COMPLEMENT THEIR EXISTING PROFESSIONAL QUAL IF ICATIONS.

TO THIS END, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE INTENDED TO SEND SUITABLE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPERVISING MARINE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS TO ATTEND TRAINING ATTACHMENTS WITH SPECIALIST SEARCH AND RESCUE ORGANISATIONS, SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES COASTGUARD AND THE UNITED KINGDOM COASTGUARD SERVICE.

THESE SENIOR STAFF WOULD THEN BE RESPONSIBLE BOTH FOR THE TRAINING OF MORE JUNIOR PERSONNEL TO A HIGH STANDARD OF PROFICIENCY AND FOR MAINTAINING THIS STANDARD THROUGHOUT THEIR ASSIGNMENT TO THE RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE.

THE SPOKESMAN CONCLUDED THAT WHAT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED SO FAR WERE IMPORTANT BUT INTERIM IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING SEARCH AND RESCUE MACHINERY.

THE WORKING GROUP SET UP UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WOULD TAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS INTO ACCOUNT IN ITS OVERALL REVIEW OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM, AND SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ANY PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER OR MORE RADICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT IT FELT NECESSARY.

THAT THERE WERE FAILINGS IN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE ORGANISATION HAD BEEN RECOGNISED BY ALL THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONCERNED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, AND MUCH HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE MATTERS AND ENSURE THAT AS FAR AS WAS HUMANLY POSSIBLE - ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS EXISTED TO SEARCH FOR, FIND, AND RESCUE ANY MARINER IN DISTRESS IN THE SEAS AROUND HONG KONG.

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