XN000022-1993-08-05 — Page 3

2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5,

1993

AND THE

THE POLITICAL ADVISER HAS ALSO OFFERED THROUGH THE NONA MEDICAL HOSPITAL HELP IF THAT IS NEEDED. AT THE MOMENT WE ARE AWAITING REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES ON THE SCENE TO ADVISE US ON HOW WE CAN HELP FURTHER. MEANTIME WE

THE HAVE ACTIVATED EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTRE IN THE SECRETARIAT AND ALSO ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE LIKELY, POSSIBLY TO BE INVOLVED AND THEY ARE ON STANDBY. THE ACTING GOVERNOR HAS BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE SITUATION AND WE'VE BEEN MAKING REGULAR REPORTS TO HIM, I THINK IS ALL I REALLY HAVE TO HAVE TO SAY AT THE MOMENT. NOW WE ARE WAITING DETAILS ON THE SPOT ASSESSMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE

THAT

FOR

MORE

SERVICES.

QUESTION:

ASPREY:

(BURNS UNIT?)

WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW IN PRECISELY WHAT WAY WE CAN ASSIST UNTIL WE GET A PROPER ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION. BUT MEDICAL AND/OR HOSPITAL ASSISTANCE IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE OFFERED THEM THAT TRY TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY THAT WE COULD.

QUESTION: HOSPITAL AUTHORITY

ASPREY:

WOULD

OF

THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN WARNED OF THE POSSIBILITY CASUALTIES COMING IN. I THINK THAT'S AS FAR AS WE CAN TAKE IT AT THE MOMENT UNTIL WE HAVE MORE DETAILS TO GIVE THEM.

QUESTION: HOW MANY FIREMEN ARE NOW STANDING BY?

THERE AT

BUT STANDBY

ASPREY: I MEAN THE FIRE SERVICES ARE ALWAYS ON STANDBY. ARE SEVERAL APPLIANCES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON SPECIAL SHEUNG SHUT. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DETAILS. BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SORTS OF APPLICANCES THAT HAVE BEEN EARMARKED AT THE SHEUNG SHUT FIRE STATION.

QUESTION:

WHEN WAS THE LAST OF REQUESTS LIKE THIS

■

ASPREY: NOT IN MY KNOWLEDGE, NOT AS FAR AS I KNOW.

QUESTION:

I

WHICH HOSPTIALS WILL BE MOST LIKELY TO BE USED?

ASPREY:

DON'T KNOW AT THIS STAGE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE TO ASSESS AT THE TIME, GIVEN THE OF CASUALTIES AND I SUPPOSE THE TYPE OF INJURIES INVOLVED. WE WOULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SEND THEM TO WHEREVER COULD BEST TREAT THEM.

NUMBER OBVIOUSLY

QUESTION:

ASPREY:

WHEN DID NONA MAKE THE REQUEST?

AT 7.30 THIS EVENING, THEY FIRST CONTACTED THE POLITICAL ADVISER AND WE'VE BEEN IN REGULAR CONTACTS WITH THEM SINCE THEN.

QUESTION:

BUT HAVE THEY BEEN SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS WANT, THERE ARE SO MANY

?

THEY

ASPREY: WELL, THEY ASKED PARTICULARLY FOR ASSISTANCE WITH FIGHTING THE

DIRECTOR FIRE, BUT WE FELT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE FIRE SERVICES GO UP TO ASSESS THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND TO SEE IN WHAT WAY HE COULD BEST ASSIST SO THAT'S BEING DONE NOW.

OF

/QUESTION: