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Twofold task for tactic Tony
 Immigration Tower consultant: SIP Tony Ho outside immigration headquarters in Wan Chai where over 260 people had to be evacuated |
Tony Ho Kai-hin's second-last week at the Hong Kong Island Emergency Unit was perhaps his toughest ever, commanding and co-ordinating the initial stages of two massive evacuations within days of each other.
SIP Ho headed police operations at Immigration Tower on March 13 which saw more than 260 people evacuated when thick smoke from an electrical explosion envelop-ed the building.
Five days later he took control again with over 1,000 people evacuated from Queen Mary Hospital and a block of Hong Kong University's quarters after construction workers dug up an unexploded World War II bomb on Pok Fu Lam Road.
"He handled a lot of evacuations before but they were not so urgent. This time both cases were large-scale operations and, particularly the Immigration Tower case, very urgent and hectic. A bit of a nightmare with thankfully happy endings due to good co-ordination and teamwork among all departments involved," he said.
SIP Ho said the potential danger of both situations was greatly evident with time-critical factors.
"Despite the messy situations, things quickly became orderly with a good system of accounting for people and liaison with departments and others such as the lift and electric companies."
In both cases all were evacuated safely and accounted for, with only one person feeling unwell from smoke inhalation at Immigration Tower.
"This case was interesting as it was only a lot of smoke, no fire. That's why the sprinkler system didn't go off. However, smoke is still deadly. It was tough as the building is 48 floors and some, such as the disabled, could not use the stairs by themselves to escape," SIP Ho said.
"QMH also proved a tough job, particularly in Block K which housed the Intensive Care Unit and nurseries.
"A lot of officers from different formations assisted hospital staff in the evacuation including pushing patients in their beds or wheelchairs, and helping move their life-preserving machinery.
"There was even an incident where another hospital urgently needed blood supplies from QMH so we deployed some officers to escort them into the hospital and help get the stocks."
As Murphy's Law states such incidents will occur again, SIP Ho advised all officers to be mentally and physically prepared.
"And not just EU or Police Tactical Unit officers, those on the beat may find themselves near the scene of a large incident like these and should be prepared also," he said.
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