Joint Marine Pollution Drill Held Near Lamma Island to Boost Spill Readiness

Oilex and HNS exercises test marine pollution responses

The annual marine pollution joint response exercises, codenamed "Oilex 2026" and "Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) 2026", were conducted by various government departments this morning (October 22) in the waters off Mo Tat Wan of Lamma Island to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters.

In the test scenario, an oil tanker collided with a container vessel, resulting in fuel oil spilling from the oil tanker, and five containers loaded with Maleic anhydride falling overboard. Subsequently, an oil spill response team arrived on the scene and cleaned up the spilled oil on the sea surface. The Fire Services Department (FSD) and other response groups were also tasked at the scene to contain and handle the probable spilled Maleic anhydride as necessary to prevent threats to the nearby environment and facilities.

During the exercises, various participating parties carried out a series of simulated response actions. After the simulated oil spill, the oil tanker anchored in the waters off Mo Tat Wan,while a salvage team transferred the fuel oil from the damaged tank and patched the leak to stop further oil spillage at the source. Moreover, an oil pollution combat team deployed floating barrier booms to encircle the oil tanker and set up barrier booms in the vicinity to prevent the spill from spreading. The exercise also simulated the spraying of oil dispersant with water from pollution control vessels and a Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopter onto oil on the sea surface, as well as the use of oil skimmers and other equipment. Simultaneously, a shoreline cleaning team conducted a shoreline oil clean-up drill at the non-gazetted beach of Mo Tat Wan. In combating the simulated HNS spill, the response groups lifted the damaged containers out from the sea to stop the pollution at the source.

The joint response exercises were co-ordinated by the Marine Department and the Environmental Protection Department. The participating government departments and organisations included the FSD, the GFS, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Government Laboratory and the Civil Aid Service, as well as several oil companies and a pollution control company jointly formed by them.

The response exercises not only provided hands-on experience for response members but also helped relevant parties to adopt an effective emergency response strategy for preventing pollution according to the properties and extents of spilled substances.

The annual marine pollution joint response exercises, code-named "Oilex 2026" and "Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) 2026", were conducted by various government departments this morning (October 22) in the waters off Mo Tat Wan of Lamma Island to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters. Photo shows an oil pollution combat team deploying floating booms as a barrier to prevent the spill from spreading. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The annual marine pollution joint response exercises, code-named "Oilex 2026" and "Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) 2026", were conducted by various government departments this morning (October 22) in the waters off Mo Tat Wan of Lamma Island to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters. Photo shows a pollution control vessel simulating the spraying of oil dispersant with water onto oil on the sea surface. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The annual marine pollution joint response exercises, code-named "Oilex 2026" and "Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) 2026", were conducted by various government departments this morning (October 22) in the waters off Mo Tat Wan of Lamma Island to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters. Photo shows an oil spill response team cleaning up spilled oil on the sea surface. The Government Flying Service and other response groups also performed tasks at the scene. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The annual marine pollution joint response exercises, code-named "Oilex 2026" and "Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) 2026", were conducted by various government departments this morning (October 22) in the waters off Mo Tat Wan of Lamma Island to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters. Photo shows a shoreline cleaning team conducting a shoreline oil clean-up drill at the non-gazetted beach of Mo Tat Wan. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The annual marine pollution joint response exercises, code-named "Oilex 2026" and "Maritime Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) 2026", were conducted by various government departments this morning (October 22) in the waters off Mo Tat Wan of Lamma Island to test their marine pollution responses in the event of a spillage of oil and HNS in Hong Kong waters. Photo shows the Marine Department's vessel, "Sea Cleaner 5", simulating the cleanup of an oil spill at sea. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Scam alert related to banks

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on theHKMA website.

Bank	Type of scam
The Bank of East Asia, Limited	Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens
Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited	Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens
Chong Hing Bank Limited	Fraudulent social media accounts and posts
Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited	Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens
OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited	Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited	Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen
Ele Bank Limited	Fraudulent website

The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

Source: AI-found images