Replies to LegCo questions
LC Urgent Q1: Application of events involving proposed use of dyestuff or powder
Following is an urgent question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat under Rule 24(4) of
the Rules of Procedure and a reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko
Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
Question:
On the 27th of last month, an explosion of coloured powder occurred and a fire
broke out at the Formosa Water Park in New Taipei City of Taiwan, causing nearly
500 casualties. Given the grave concern of members of the public about the
safety of two large-scale events to be held in Hong Kong this month and in
December this year respectively, in which coloured paints or powder will be
used, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has immediately reviewed the system adopted by the authorities
for regulating the use of coloured paints or powder in public events, including
the procedures for vetting and approval of such applications, and prohibition on
the use of substances which are harmful to the skin and to the respiratory
system or which are inflammable; if it has reviewed, of the outcome; if not,
whether it will conduct such a review immediately; and
(2) whether it has immediately reviewed if the hospitals in Hong Kong can cope
with a scenario in which hundreds of people suffer from burns; if the review
outcome is that the hospitals can hardly cope with such a scenario, whether it
will immediately draw up contingency measures?
Reply:
President,
The Government is concerned about the dust deflagration incident which occurred
in New Taipei City, Taiwan, especially the safety of such activities and whether
a similar incident would arise in Hong Kong. In this connection, the Food and
Health Bureau will coordinate with the relevant bureaux and departments
including the Security Bureau (SB), Home Affairs Bureau, Fire Services
Department (FSD), Buildings Department (BD), Electrical and Mechanical Services
Department (EMSD), Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department (FEHD), Department of Health (DH), Government Laboratory (GL) and
Hospital Authority (HA) to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in Hong
Kong.
Generally speaking, dust deflagration is attributed to a number of major
elements, including combustible powder, ignition source, oxygen, the extent of
dispersion of powder particles and the extent of confinement of powder cloud in
a space. The risk also includes deflagration for more than one time. The
departments concerned will handle prudently activities involving the use of
powder, by requesting applicants to provide relevant information, seeking
professional advice and making careful analysis, so as to protect public safety.
Currently, the organisers of two events involving the proposed use of dyestuff
or powder are applying for a place of public entertainment (PPE) licence under
the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap. 172) (the Ordinance). These
two events are proposed to be held in July and December 2015 respectively.
According to the announcement by AsiaWorld-Expo yesterday, following its liaison
with the organiser, the proposed event originally scheduled for July will be
postponed while that for December will be cancelled. However, as at earlier
today, FEHD has yet to be formally informed by the organisers about the
cancellation.
Under the Ordinance, any person who desires to keep or use any PPE must apply to
the licensing authority for a licence. The Secretary for Home Affairs is the
licensing authority. He has authorised the Director of Food and Environmental
Hygiene to execute the licensing procedures. The Ordinance has been enacted for
the purpose of ensuring public safety and orderliness on the premises concerned
where members of the public gather together, covering various aspects such as
fire safety, building safety, electrical and mechanical equipment, ventilation,
crowd management and hygiene. All PPEs must comply with the requirements set by
FEHD and other departments concerned (e.g. FSD, BD, EMSD and HKPF) as
appropriate.
My reply to the two parts of the question is as follows:
(1) We are given to understand that the powder involved in the recent Taiwan
incident was mainly composed of corn starch dyed in different colours.
Upon receipt of an application for a PPE licence, FEHD will first consider the
nature of the activity. If the activity falls within the ambit of the Ordinance,
FEHD will handle the application and, in the light of the nature of activity and
the venue in question, consult the relevant government departments, including
FSD, BD, EMSD, Environmental Protection Department, Transport Department,
Highways Department, HKPF and Lands Department, to ensure compliance with
requirements covering plan specifications, fire safety, building safety,
electrical, mechanical, crowd management and hygiene requirements. These
departments will advise on areas under their respective purview.
Upon receiving a referral from FEHD, FSD will examine the information submitted
by the applicant according to the existing PPE licensing mechanism. Inspection
of the relevant premises or venue will be carried out to learn more about the
nature of the activity, the form of performance, props and materials, etc. based
on which fire risk will be assessed and appropriate fire safety requirements
formulated for compliance by the applicant. After the premises or venue
concerned is confirmed to be in compliance with all fire safety requirements,
FSD will issue a fire services certificate to the applicant and inform FEHD
accordingly.
Where an applicant proposes to use dyestuff or powder in an activity, FSD will,
as and when necessary, ask the applicant to submit further information on the
dyestuff or powder to be used, for instance, a material safety data sheet
containing details of its composition, and physical and chemical data (e.g.
toxicity, flammability and explosiveness). Should FSD, after assessing the fire
risk, consider that the form of performance, the props or materials to be used
in the activity are not suitable in the premises or venue concerned, it may
prohibit the applicant from adopting the relevant form of performance or using
certain props or materials, or else FSD will raise objection to the application.
Furthermore, BD will advise FEHD on building safety matters (e.g. the means of
escape and structural safety, including the stage and supporting framework for
lighting and audio systems, etc.) while EMSD will advise on the electrical and
mechanical equipment (e.g. electrical installation and laser equipment.
As regards the impact on human health, DH will, as invited by the licensing
authority, require the applicant to provide information on the dyestuff or
powder used in the relevant activity (including its composition, risk assessment
report on toxicity etc.), as well as the use, target population and venues, and
then offer advice based on the assessed impact on human health.
GL will provide support for FSD and DH through conducting test and assessment to
ascertain flammability and risks of potential health hazards. The testing
process conducted by GL measures up to the international standards (ISO 17025).
Upon receipt of feedback from the departments concerned, FEHD will process the
application on the basis of the risk assessments they make. If the relevant
departments do not object to the application, FEHD will issue a letter of
requirements to the applicant. It is only after all the requirements have been
met and inspection has been conducted to confirm compliance with the
requirements that a licence will be issued, and appropriate licensing conditions
will be imposed.
(2) HA will take actions under the three-tier response framework at the request
of the Government in response to major incidents, accidents and disasters.
Taking into account factors including the nature of the cases and their
magnitude, the number of casualties and demand for medical treatment, HA will
activate the appropriate response level and maximise its rescue efforts with the
resources available. For example, HA will flexibly deploy its medical manpower,
hospital beds and the relevant medical resources, according to the
circumstances, to provide appropriate handling and treatment.
In the event of a major disaster such as a fire, HA will consider whether the
tier three response should be activated under the circumstances to go in line
with the Government’s actions and policies. The Central Command Committee under
HA will take appropriate actions as directed by its Chief Executive. Apart from
providing in-patient medical treatment to the injured, the relevant public
hospitals will, where necessary, send a medical control officer to the scene for
on-site triage of casualties and emergency medical teams to provide emergency
medical treatment. Social and psychological services for the injured and their
families will also be provided.
In addition, HA's Head Office will activate the Major Incident Control Centre
(MICC), which is operated by the MICC coordinators and duty officers.
Externally, the MICC serves as a communication hub for HA and maintains close
liaison with government bureaux/departments, including FSD, district offices, SB
and HKPF, to better understand the progress of rescue on the spot and the need
for setting up an inter-departmental help desk. Internally, the MICC coordinates
the operation of 17 accident and emergency departments and 15 intensive care
units. Should the situation so warrant, medical control officers and emergency
medical teams will be dispatched to provide the injured with medical treatment
on the spot and in hospitals.
Regarding medical services, the 17 accident and emergency departments under HA
have built up a network of mutual support for the deployment of medical control
officers and emergency medical teams to the scene to provide medical services
for the injured. The duty officer of the MICC will maintain close contact with
the Fire Services Communication Centre and receiving hospitals to provide triage
service. A service network is also in place among the acute hospitals to take
care of patients suffering from burns. According to the prevailing internal
guidelines, when their conditions are clinically stable and so permit, these
patients may be transferred to the relevant burns facilities or units for
appropriate treatment.
That said, the intense day-to-day demand currently being placed on HA's services
is such that where HA has to initiate the aforesaid tier three response as a
contingency measure for emergency, it is inevitable that other non-emergency
medical services will be affected. Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:14
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