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Casualty enquiry hotline keeps
anxious families informed
Scores of relatives were kept informed of the conditions and movements of loved ones injured in the crash through the hard work of Police hotline operators.
The Casualty Enquiry Unit received almost 600 calls up to 5 pm the following day of the accident.
The unit, set up under the instruction of the Director of Operations, gathers all information regarding casualties, handles public enquiries, collects and collates data to identify casualties, notifies relatives, and makes records of all information received.
The unit is manned by 25 staff from the Complaints Against Police Office, headed by the Senior Superintendent, and operates from Arsenal House in Police Headquarters.
CAPO Hong Kong Island Superintendent Steve Chiu Sim-hung said 213 people were sent to six different hospitals on the night of the accident and phones were ringing non-stop for several hours with calls from anxious relatives. "We had a total of 583 calls including those from passengers' relatives in Taiwan, and the Mainland. We had enquiries from passengers' consulate officials here also," Mr Chiu said. "Many of the relatives calling in were very distressed so when officers followed up on the enquiries the relatives were extremely appreciative of the Police effort to locate the passengers and report their condition. We received a lot of emotional thanks from them."
CP Eddie Hui applauded the unit's team, and also staff of the Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System for their smooth handling of the mass of enquiries.