XN000022-1996-03-06 — Page 121

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Pat Sin Leng hill fire tragedy

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kam-lam and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Security, Mrs Carrie Yau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The recent fire tragedy at Hsien Ku Fung in Pat Sin Leng Country Park has given rise to public concern over the ability of various government departments to co- ordinate sufficiently their efforts in both the rescue operation and the subsequent medical treatment process. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) why the Government Secretariat Emergency Co-ordination Centre, which is specifically set up to deal with major incidents, was not in operation on the day of the tragedy; under what circumstances will the Co-ordination Centre be put into operation;

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

whether there is a need to review the existing guideline which specifies that ambulance crew should send the injured to the nearest hospital or clinic for treatment; and whether a review will be conducted to ascertain if the arrangement of sending all the injured to the Prince of Wales Hospital by land on that day might have caused a delay in giving emergency treatment to the victims;

why the Government did not enlist the assistance of the British Garrison in rescuing the injured and taking them by helicopters to hospitals; under what circumstances will the Government approach the British Garrison for assistance;

what co-ordinating role does the Hospital Authority play in coping with major incidents of this kind; why the situation has arisen where the Prince of Wales Hospital openly appeals for skin-donors while there is a reserved stock of skin available in Queen Mary Hospital; and

to improve the

what measures does the Government have communication equipment of the ambulance crew of the Fire Services Department and to tackle the problem of ambulances having inadequate equipment for the treatment of burns?