XN000022-1986-04-29 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, APRIL 29,

MR WOODHOUSE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE MID-1984 ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS HAVE MET EVERY TWO MONTHS AS A LIAISON GROUP TO STRENGTHEN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE PROCEDURES.

THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDED A MORE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR THE STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE U.S. COAST GUARD TRAINING COURSE TO BE HELD IN HONG KONG ON A TWO OR THREE YEAR CYCLE. THE FIRST SUCH COURSE WAS HELD IN HONG

KONG IN NOVEMBER 1985.

IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT AT LEAST ONE MARINE DEPARTMENT OFFICER SHOULD ATTEND A SUITABLE U.S. COAST GUARD TRAINING COURSE IN NEW YORK EACH YEAR.

OFFICERS SO TRAINED WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING FORMAL IN-HOUSE TRAINING IN THE MARINE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL STAFF LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.

OTHER MEASURES INCLUDE:

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THE ORGANISING OF AN ANNUAL MARINE SEARCH AND RESCUE EXERCISE BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE. THE FIRST SUCH EXERCISE, WHICH SIMULATED AN ACCIDENT TO A MACAU-BOUND JETFOIL WAS SUCCESSFULLY ORGANISED IN NOVEMBER 1985 AND ANOTHER IS CURRENTLY BEING ORGANISED;

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEPARATE MARITIME RESCUE CO- ORDINATION CENTRE WITH IMPROVED EQUIPMENT. THIS WILL BE LOCATED EITHER IN THE NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL OR THE EXISTING PORT CONTROL CENTRE WHEN IT IS VACATED. EITHER LOCATION WILL HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO BE MANNED QUICKLY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, YET WILL OPERATE SEPARATELY FROM THE PORT CONTROL CENTRE.

MR WOODHOUSE EMPHASISED THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY INTRODUCED OR ENDORSED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN FUTURE WILL ENSURE THAT THE SEARCH AND RESCUE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG MAINTAINS A HIGH STANDARD OF OPERATION.

POINTING OUT THAT THE CRITICISMS MADE BY THE MARINE COURT OF INQUIRY HAD BEEN TAKEN FULLY INTO CONSIDERATION, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT THE SYSTEM, AS MODIFIED AND APPROVED, PROVIDES AS FAR AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS TO SEARCH FOR AND RESCUE ANY PERSON IN DISTRESS IN THE SEA AROUND HONG KONG.

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