Commuters wear face masks as they travel on a MTR underground metro train in Hong Kong on July 29, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)
HONG KONG – The Admiralty MTR station may have become a “mega station” and crowded at times after the opening of MTR East Rail Line cross-harbour extension last month, but Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan assured the public Wednesday that the station was ready for any emergency or disaster.
Answering a query at the Legislative Council, Chan said the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has formulated contingency measures for major incidents and service disruptions for all MTR lines and stations to ensure passenger safety.
Before commissioning of the East Rail Line cross-harbour extension, the MTRCL conducted various drills with government departments at the new railway section, new Exhibition Centre Station, and the extended areas of the Admiralty Station and Hung Hom Station
Before commissioning of the East Rail Line cross-harbour extension, the MTRCL conducted various drills with government departments at the new railway section, new Exhibition Centre Station, and the extended areas of the Admiralty Station and Hung Hom Station.
These were meant to “test the capability of handling different situations such as fire, flooding, extreme weather, public events and train services disruption”, Chan said.
“For example, in the early hours on March 23 this year, the MTRCL coordinated a major joint emergency and rescue exercise with the Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force,” he added.
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Chan said the exercise was conducted to validate the emergency response and passenger evacuation procedures in dealing with train incidents, as well as the coordination and communication among major emergency services departments under contingency scenarios.
The MTRCL staff and emergency services personnel participated in the exercise, while the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Transport Department and the Highways Department were present to observe.
In the event of an emergency, the MTRCL will quickly disseminate information to passengers and the media and signs at station exits will be illuminated so that passengers may follow instructions to evacuate, Chan said
Besides Admiralty station’s six entrances and exits, there are also emergency exits for evacuation and station staff will also provide assistance to passengers in need, he added.
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