The Hong Kong Fire Services Department is holding a four-day International Aquatic Rescue Technical Exchange, bringing together water rescue experts from eight Asia-Pacific regions including mainland China, Macau, and Indonesia to share knowledge on aquatic rescue technology and tactics starting from yesterday.
Participants will be spending two days in Hong Kong for exchanges on aquatic rescue operations experiences, followed by two days of visits to the mainland, including a tour of the National Southeast Regional Emergency Rescue Center in Chaozhou, Guangdong to learn about the country's efforts in enhancing rescue techniques and personnel training with advanced technologies.
During yesterday's opening ceremony, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said that the event is essential for experts and frontline practitioners from across the region to deepen mutual understanding and foster better operational coordination, since aquatic rescue has been among the most challenging and high-risk emergency operations.
Tang also hoped that the Fire Service Department could continue to contribute to the country’s strategies on disaster management, deepening international partnership to better protect lives across the region.
Fire Services Director Andy Yeung Yan-kin said that the more intense typhoons and severe flooding brought by climate change have made the mission of emergency rescue more critical than ever, and that the greatest impact can be achieved through cross-regional collaboration.
He hoped that the exchange would foster a culture of continuous improvement among rescue teams, with their shared dedication to further excel in aquatic rescue standards being showcased.
