Fire Services Department Launches Community Emergency Responder Scheme to Boost Public Safety Awareness and Training

Fire Services Department Community Emergency Responder Scheme launched

To enhance fire safety awareness and the emergency preparedness of the public, the Fire Services Department (FSD) launched the Fire Services Department Community Emergency Responder (FSDCER) Scheme today (December 14). Participants will receive training on fire prevention and emergency preparedness, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to help safeguard community safety.

The launching ceremony of the FSDCER Scheme, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was officiated by the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung; the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Public Safety and Corporate Strategy), Mr Derek Armstrong Chan; and newly appointed chairmen of the FSDCER Honorary Presidents' Scheme from the 18 districts, at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Yeung said that the FSD launched the Fire Safety Ambassador Scheme as early as 1997. In light of the increasing willingness for the public to save lives during emergencies, the FSD has introduced the new FSDCER Scheme. The Scheme draws on successful experiences from both the Mainland and overseas, aiming to enhance the public's knowledge of emergency preparedness and instil a sense of responsibility and dedication to the community. By participating in the Scheme's trainings and activities, the public can equip themselves with knowledge on fire prevention and emergency responses to handle various emergency situations.

Mr Yeung emphasised that community safety is a shared responsibility of every member of the public. A parent-child scheme has therefore been introduced, with the participants' minimum age expanding from 12 years old to 6 years old, in order to encourage family participation. With the new initiative, children can be nurtured with fire safety awareness and the ability to handle emergency situations from a young age. They will also be instilled with a sense of safety and responsibility towards the community.

The FSDCER Scheme is now open for registration for Hong Kong citizens aged 12 or above, while children aged 6 to 11 can participate as parent-child members. Interested parties can submit their applications online (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/fsd082/en). After fulfilling requirements of online studies, a practice session and an assessment, participants will be appointed as FSDCERs.

Fire Services Department Community Emergency Responder Scheme launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Fire Services Department Community Emergency Responder Scheme launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Fire Services Department Community Emergency Responder Scheme launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority's statement regarding suspected incident of patient data being leaked on third-party platform

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following statement today (April 4) regarding the suspected incident of patient data being leaked on a third-party platform:

The HA's routine monitoring system detected at around 2am yesterday (April 3) a suspected case of patient data being taken without authorisation and leaked on a third-party platform. The HA promptly reported the matter to the Police and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data in the morning, and will fully co-operate with the Police investigation and actions.

The more than 56 000 patients involved in the incident are from the Kowloon East Cluster. The leaked data contains information including patients' names, gender, Hong Kong identity card numbers, hospital file numbers, and details of surgical procedures.

The HA sincerely apologises to the affected patients and will take all practicable measures to minimise the impact on patients. The HA will notify the affected patients via the "HA Go" mobile application, mail and phone calls as soon as possible. The Kowloon East Cluster has also set up a dedicated hotline at 5215 7326 for patient enquiries. The hotline operates Monday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm. Patients may also leave messages outside of hotline operating hours and staff will respond as soon as possible.

The HA takes cybersecurity very seriously, and has conducted a thorough review of its internal network systems upon discovering the incident, confirming that the systems are operating normally and securely, with no indication of a cyberattack or similar factors. The HA immediately suspended the contractor's system maintenance work.

The HA has been continuously implementing various measures to strengthen its healthcare systems, including ongoing enhancements to cybersecurity safeguards, user security awareness, cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, as well as network monitoring and incident response capabilities. The HA will also collaborate with law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity organisations to enhance cybersecurity, so as to ensure appropriate protection of hospital operations, patient services, and personal data security. The HA also urges affected patients to remain vigilant and be alert to whether their personal data may be used for other purposes, take steps to protect their personal data such as changing passwords, and seek police assistance if necessary.

Source: AI-found images