Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Emergency Rescue Exercise Liancheng-2025 Kicks Off in Hong Kong

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU

​The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD), the Fire and Rescue Corps of Guangdong Province, and the Macao Fire Services Bureau jointly hold in Hong Kong "Liancheng-2025", the 48-hour Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) joint emergency response and rescue exercise, for three consecutive days starting today (March 25).

"Liancheng-2025", hosted by the FSD, is participated by the fire rescue departments of the three places, as well as the Hospital Authority and the Civil Aid Service. The exercise is funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

The exercise simulated extreme situations in Hong Kong that put a strain on rescue resources. According to the mechanism under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Emergency Management Co-operation and GBA Emergency Response Operation Co-operation Framework Agreement signed by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in June last year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government requested assistance from the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. The Fire and Rescue Corps of Guangdong Province and the Macao Fire Services Bureau promptly rendered assistance by deploying personnel, fire appliances, and equipment to Hong Kong.

The Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations), Mr Angus Wong, who acted as the commander of the Hong Kong cross-border rescue team, co-ordinated and allocated firefighting and rescue personnel and resources of the three places in the rescue operations for a number of simulated incidents.

Witnessed by the Minister of Emergency Management, Mr Wang Xiangxi, and the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, four Guangdong fire appliances, with cross-boundary quota for fire appliances granted earlier, crossed the border directly with dual licence plates via the Shenzhen Bay Port into Hong Kong to participate in the exercise. It demonstrated the effectiveness of cross-boundary rescue through the cross-boundary Green Channel.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Fire and Ambulance Services Academy and the China Fire and Rescue Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further deepen their collaboration. The two institutes will co-operate in training firefighting and rescue personnel with quality, and foster innovation and development of firefighting and rescue technologies. The MOU was signed by Deputy Director General of the National Fire and Rescue Administration Mr He Ning and the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, witnessed by Mr Wang and the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki.

Fire rescue departments from the two places will continue to strengthen and deepen collaboration in areas such as developing personnel training, enhancing professional training, conducting academic and technical exchange, as well as major research projects, with a view to jointly embarking on a new chapter in firefighting and rescue efforts.

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GBA joint emergency response and rescue exercise held in Hong Kong; FSD and China Fire and Rescue Institute sign MOU Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (March 29) that the construction of the Hospital Authority Support Services Centre (HASSC) has been substantially completed and the operation has commenced in phases, providing laundry, patient catering, critical personal protective equipment and key linen storage, and data center services. The HASSC aims to enhance patient support services in public hospitals and strengthen their capability to handle emergencies.

The Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang, said, "To meet the growing demand for healthcare services, the HA not only carries out a series of hospital development and improvement projects, but also builds other service facilities to enhance patient supporting services. The HASSC will centrally co-ordinate patient supporting services of HA hospitals, such as patient catering and laundry service for patient linens, thereby releasing space for clinical or other services in public hospitals. The HASSC adopts automated systems and robotics technology to reduce operational and logistics costs, as well as improving operational efficiency."

The Cluster Chief Executive of Kowloon West Cluster of the HA, Dr Law Chun-bon, expressed his gratitude to the relevant HA departments for their united efforts in the preparatory work, which enabled the timely commissioning and operation of the HA's first supporting services centre. "The establishment of the HASSC shall enhance patient supporting services and facilities of the HA, becoming an indispensable part of public healthcare services and complementing clinical services," he said.

The HASSC covers an area of approximately 62 000 square meters and includes a central laundry centre, a central food production unit, a corporate data centre, and central emergency stores. The data centre and central emergency stores have been in operation since January this year, while the central laundry centre and central food production unit began phased operations in mid-March.

The HASSC will gradually increase its service capacity. By 2030, it is expected that the central laundry centre and central food production unit will be able to meet half of the laundry and catering needs of public hospitals. The corporate data centre will also support half of the total data centre requirement of the HA which will significantly enhance the information technology capacity of public hospitals. Additionally, the central emergency stores at the HASSC will store emergency personal protective equipment and supplies, ensuring flexibility in response to pandemics, disasters, or emergencies, thereby strengthening the HA's emergency response capabilities.

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority Support Services Centre commences operation in phases Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases