Synchronized: SIP Simon Hannaford in the Airport Police Control Room

The control centre, on the third floor of the Airport Police Station, houses the Mission Critical Communication System and other networks which Police use to contact every response service both within and outside the airport. They included the Airport Emergency and Airport Operational Control Centres, Fire Services Department, and the Regional and Headquarters Command and Control Centres to get all the support services organised and swung into action.

New Territories South Deputy Regional Commander Mak Man-poon commanded the control room and co-ordinated the Regional assistance.

Airport District Senior Inspector (Operations Support) Simon Hannaford said the systems proved vital for co-ordinating services and communication. "Once we learned of the crash we immediately got the contingency plan mobilised and deployed officers to the scene instantly. We also covered access control to the airfield, letting through emergency services while keeping others out," he said.

"We also did all the head counting in the centre to account for all the passengers. All were taken for treatment straight away and yet the head count was still completed in just a few hours, so that's pretty good. And with this experience it can only be even better next time. The Police Communications Officers did a first-rate job in handling the incident."

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