Disaster Exercise and Planning in Hong Kong

The Annual Conference on Disaster Preparedness and Response 2015: From Community to Emergency Room was held from 30th October to 1st November, 2015 at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine. The Conference was co-organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute (HKJCDPRI) and the Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine (HKCEM). The Conference successfully brought together a wide range of stakeholders including government representatives, healthcare professionals, NGO practitioners, and academics working in the field of disaster preparedness and response.

The HKJCDPRI would like to share with you some highlights of the conference in webcasts.

This presentation gives an overview of the measures adopted by the Hong Kong SAR Government in managing major incidents that disrupt lives or threaten public safety. At the centre of the Government’s management efforts is the Emergency Response System that facilitates efficient channeling of information and resources where they are needed when disaster strikes. It emphasizes clear lines of communication and effective delegation of authority to support efforts by various departments and agencies in restoring normality. This presentation provides snapshots of the preparation made by certain departments for disaster response, ranging from personnel training to regular exercises. It will also take a look at examples of efforts to mitigating the impact of disasters by forward planning. In its concluding part, the presentation will examine lessons from the Katrina and Fukushima disasters, in an effort to throw some light on the answer to the following question: just how well prepared are we for disasters in Hong Kong? This webcast will cover the following issues,

• Overview of the HKSAR Government’s emergency response framework
• Examples of departmental efforts in disaster planning and exercise
• Importance of community engagement: Lesson learned from Hurricane Katrina and 3/11 Earthquake and Tsunami

General public