Hong Kong's Emergency Traffic Coordination Centre managed a significant increase in incidents last year, handling over 7,700 cases - a 17 percent rise compared to approximately 6,600 incidents in 2023, the Transport Department revealed.
Operating as the nerve center for monitoring Hong Kong's transport network around the clock, the facility serves as the critical hub for coordinating responses during emergencies.
Road accidents and vehicle breakdowns accounted for half of all cases handled, while transport service disruptions made up 32 percent of incidents, said the department.
Writing on social media Saturday, the department said the center's primary mission focuses on maintaining close communication with various government departments, public transport operators and tunnel management companies during emergencies.
Its rapid response helps clear incident scenes promptly and implement traffic diversion measures, minimizing disruptions to commuters.
A three-tier operational system enables the center to scale its response according to incident severity.
Routine minor incidents are handled at Level One, while more complex situations such as typhoons or serious tunnel accidents trigger Level Two responses with additional specialist staff deployed. The highest Level Three activation brings together multiple agencies under a joint command structure for major events, including new infrastructure launches, large-scale sports competitions, and the beginning of school terms, it wrote.
Recognizing the importance of timely information, the center disseminates real-time traffic updates through multiple channels including radio and television broadcasts, the Transport Department website, and the "HKeMobility" mobile application.
This comprehensive approach ensures drivers and commuters can access the latest information to plan their journeys effectively.
(Marco Lam)
