HK takes part in first cross-border rescue drills

Officers of the Security Bureau and the Fire Services Department are participating in the first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau rescue drills in Jiangmen city that began yesterday.

The 48-hour cross-border emergency drills with counterparts in Guangdong province and Macau aim to step up emergency rescue capabilities across the three regions, the bureau said.

Hong Kong's disaster response and rescue team arrived at Jiangmen Special Service Fire Station in the morning.

Hong Kong police, Immigration, and Customs and Excise Department had jointly organized a trial run of their "cross-boundary green lane," allowing Hong Kong fire engines to go through a speedy customs clearance, the bureau said.

The rescue teams were able to go through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge soon enough to take part in the drills, it said.

"This cross-boundary exercise is not only the first time for the fire and rescue units of the three regions to conduct a joint exercise on the mainland, but also the first time for Hong Kong fire engines to take part in it," the bureau added. "This demonstrates a high degree of integration among the fire and rescue units of the three places, and lays a solid foundation for the implementation of the 'green lane' under the Greater Bay Area Emergency Response and Rescue Operational Plan."

The drills are part of drafting an operational plan, as proposed in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's Policy Address last year.

"The objective of the operational plan is to strengthen the emergency response capability of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau in responding to accidents, disasters or natural calamities affecting the three places," the bureau said.

"The plan will also promote the overall enhancement of the standard of emergency response management of the three places, and realize the effective utilization and rational sharing of emergency resources."

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau authorities are formulating an operational plan and are expected to sign the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Emergency Management Cooperation and Greater Bay Area Emergency Response Operation Cooperation Framework Agreement in mid-June.

"This will strengthen the emergency rescue and relief capabilities of the three places and make the Greater Bay Area a quality living area," the bureau said.