Swift Evacuation and Bomb Disposal Operation Successfully Resolves World War II Bomb Threat in Quarry Bay

Government's combined efforts enable successful disposal of wartime bomb

A Government spokesman said today (September 20) that in response to the discovery of a wartime bomb in Quarry Bay yesterday (September 19), relevant government departments swiftly activated their emergency mechanisms, worked closely together and demonstrated a high level of professionalism and teamwork to conduct an evacuation and bomb disposal operation, resolving the crisis in a safe and orderly manner. Throughout the entire process, various sectors of society, including Care Teams and community service organisations, actively provided support and assistance. Citizens displayed exemplary orderliness, complete understanding and full co-operation, reflecting the outstanding qualities of Hong Kong people and enabling the crisis to be handled in an organised and proper manner, resulting in a successful resolution.

Police received a report at noon yesterday that a suspected bomb was discovered at a construction site at 16-94 Pan Hoi Street, North Point. Police officers were deployed to the scene to carry out the investigation and handling arrangements. Officers of the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau (EODB) confirmed that the bomb was a cylindrical American aerial bomb from World War II, approximately 150 centimetres in length, weighing about 1 000 pounds and containing 500 pounds of high explosives, posing a significant danger.

The Security Bureau swiftly mobilised nearly 500 personnel from the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Civil Aid Service (CAS) and the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) to participate in the emergency response operation. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre was immediately activated to fully co-ordinate and support the cross-departmental emergency work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

In preparation for the disposal operation, the Police consulted relevant government departments, co-ordinated with stakeholders and conducted a comprehensive impact assessment. All precautionary measures were implemented, including the evacuation of occupants from 18 residential or commercial buildings nearby to ensure public safety and minimise the impacts on the public. Officers of the EODB commenced the bomb disposal operation last night and successfully completed it at 11.48am today. The cordon was lifted immediately after that.

The FSD deployed a total of 58 fire and ambulance vehicles, and mobilised 224 fire and ambulance personnel during the incident. After conducting a risk assessment, the department mobilised one jet and one breathing apparatus, and dispatched firefighting robots to strategic locations. To support the EODB's operations and prevent any impact on nearby buildings, the FSD also deployed the Disaster Response and Rescue Team to the scene to standby. The FSD also co-ordinated with the Police to carry out a large-scale evacuation, ultimately evacuating 2 887 residents in total.

In addition, the FSD collaborated with the AMS and the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance to assist residents with special needs, transporting five residents who were feeling unwell to the hospital, and six other individuals to other suitable accommodations. After the disposal operation was completed, the FSD also co-ordinated with relevant departments, including the CAS, Hong Kong St. John Ambulance, the Home Affairs Department (HAD), and the Social Welfare Department, dispatching newly introduced mass conveyance ambulance to take eight people in need and with limited mobility back home.

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the HAD rendered full support to the Police in carrying out the evacuation operation. Through established district networks, the HYAB and HAD promptly notified the owners' corporations and property management companies of the affected buildings to ensure timely communications with residents yesterday. All 35 Care Teams of the Eastern District were mobilised, while Care Teams of the Wan Chai District also provided cross-district support. District Council members, together with Care Team members and volunteers, also assisted residents in need at the affected buildings and temporary shelters.

In response to the evacuation, the HAD set up a total of 19 temporary shelters to accommodate residents in need. Around 450 residents stayed in these shelters last night, where the District Offices staff, Care Team members and volunteers provided overnight support. Bedding and meals were also provided in the shelters, including breakfast and lunch. For residents' convenience, coaches were arranged by the District Office last night to transport those in need to the temporary shelters, and similar arrangements were made today to enable residents to return to their homes. Despite heavy rain, Care Team members provided attentive assistance at pick-up and drop-off points, particularly for elderly persons with mobility difficulties. In addition, support desks were set up at the lobbies of affected buildings to promptly respond to and follow up on residents' enquiries. Separate areas were specially arranged at the shelters for affected residents to rest with their pets.

In this operation, the CAS mobilised over 100 members to actively assist in the evacuation, ensuring the safety of the residents. The CAS Command Centre also operated at full capacity to provide command and support. Moreover, CAS members assisted to set up temporary shelters and provide support to those in need. After the disposal of the bomb, CAS members continued to assist the affected residents in returning to their homes in a safe and orderly manner.

During the operation, the AMS deployed five ambulances and 47 members to standby at the scene throughout the evacuation. Following the completion of the bomb disposal and subsequent unsealing of the site, AMS members assisted to transport six citizens with mobility difficulties back to their residences.

In addition, the Emergency Transport Coordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) operated round the clock to oversee the orderly implementation of various special traffic and transport arrangements. In view of the full closure of both directions of a section of King's Road in Quarry Bay earlier, the TD had been steering and co-ordinating public transport operators overnight for maintaining preparedness and responding in a prudent manner to adjusting affected services, with a view to minimising the impact to the daily commute of passengers. Following the reopening of affected roads in phases, the TD liaised with operators of franchised buses and the tramways for swift follow up to ensure safe operation of their services. The affected services gradually resumed their normal routings after noon, and the MTR also reopened entrances/exits of Quarry Bay Station closed earlier. The TD disseminated the latest traffic news and appealed overnight through its website, radio and TV broadcasts, the HKeMobility mobile application, etc to provide convenience for the public to plan their journeys.

The Government spokesman said that the swift, safe and smooth resolution of the bomb disposal situation hinged on the close co-operation of various government departments and their dedication to duty, and the active co-operation and support of Care Teams, community service organisations, as well as the affected citizens. The Government thanks the public and the participating organisations and institutions for their support and collaboration, which enabled the crisis to be defused successfully.

Source: AI-found images

Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Tsuen Wan today

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Tsuen Wan this afternoon (January 14), in which several oxy-acetylene cylinders fell from a container during a lifting operation and hit workers underneath, resulting in the death of one worker and injuries to two workers. The LD is saddened by the death and injury of the workers in the accident, and expresses its deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and the injured workers.

The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the lifting operation at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

To prevent loads being lifted from falling and hitting workers, the LD reminds employers to ensure that (i) the loads have been safely and securely connected to lifting gear before lifting operations; (ii) the gate of the container holding the loads is properly locked or fastened; and (iii) lifting zone is demarcated and barricaded, with no one entering the zone during lifting operations.

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: AI-found images