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Following is the question by the Hon KWOK Ka-ki and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (March 22):
Question:
It has been reported that last September, an 82-year-old woman of Singapore nationality who felt discomfort in Hong Kong Disneyland ("HKD") was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital and subsequently certified dead. Her daughter complained that, in the course of the incident, she had sought help from the staff of HKD, but failed to obtain prompt assistance. She also said that the rescue was delayed because the ambulance could not have access to HKD from its main entrance. Regarding the handling of emergencies and rescue work by HKD, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the details of the above incident, and whether the Coroner's Court will conduct a death inquiry into the incident; if it will, when the inquiry will be conducted; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) whether it has assessed the adequacy of the current medical and health facilities and emergency measures of HKD; if it has, of the assessment results, and whether it will discuss with the management of HKD the ways to perfect the relevant facilities and conduct staff training, in order to enhance the staff's ability to respond to emergency situations; and
(c) how it will monitor the operation and enhance the entrepreneurial responsibility of HKD in order that it will face up to the importance of rescue work, so as to ensure that the tourists and members of the public are offered rescue expeditiously in case they have accidents or feel discomfort in HKD?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) According to the information provided by Hongkong International Theme Parks Ltd ("HKITP"), a family member of the woman approached the front desk of Disney's Hollywood Hotel for assistance at about 8.43pm on September 28, 2005. HKITP immediately sent a staff member with first-aid training to the room where she was staying to provide assistance.
According to the Fire Services Department, the Fire Services Communication Centre received a call at 8.55pm from HKITP. The Penny's Bay Fire Station cum Ambulance Depot dispatched an ambulance at 8.56pm and arrived at the hotel at 9.01pm. The ambulance was parked at a side entrance as arranged by HKITP. HKITP explained that this provided the shortest possible route to the room. The ambulance crew would have needed more time to go to the room had they entered from the main entrance of the hotel.
At 9.03pm, the ambulance crew attended the woman in her room. She was unconscious and necessary resuscitation was conducted by the crew. The ambulance left with her for Princess Margaret Hospital at around 9.10pm and arrived at 9.40pm. She was certified dead the same evening.
An autopsy was later performed at Kwai Chung Public Mortuary and the completed autopsy report was sent to the Coroner's Court on November 16, 2005. We have consulted the Judiciary in relation to the matter. The Coroner had considered the preliminary investigation report submitted by the Police and the autopsy report. Both disclosed no suspicious circumstances. The Coroner decided that an Inquest is not necessary.
(b)&(c) HKITP considers guest safety its top priority. There is a first-aid centre within the theme park, and a full-time team of nine registered nurses as well as over 100 qualified first-aid trained staff members are on hand to respond to medical-related situations in both the theme park and the hotels.
Prior to the opening of HKD, an emergency management plan was compiled by HKITP with input from relevant Government departments. This emergency management plan covers a wide range of possible emergency situations as well as the access routes and staging locations of emergency vehicles which ensure arrival at the scene of an incident anywhere in the theme park and hotels in the shortest possible time.
HKITP reviews this emergency management plan on a continuous basis with input and comments from relevant Government departments to ensure that the plan incorporates updates in light of operating experience. HKITP also reviews and refreshes training for staff members from time to time with a view to enhancing knowledge and experience of all those involved in providing necessary medical assistance to park visitors when such service is required.
As a further measure to handle emergency situations, HKITP has also installed direct telephone lines to the Penny's Bay Police Post, Fire Services Department's Fire Services Communication Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and the relevant Police Regional Command and Control Centre before the opening of the park.
HKITP explains that its policy is to call ambulances for theme park or hotel guests where necessary and to provide the quickest access for the emergency services. HKITP arranged the ambulance to park at the side entrance in this case because it provided the shortest possible route to the room.
It is the common objective of both HKITP and relevant Government departments to work closely to ensure the smooth operation of the theme park, including its emergency care and safety procedures. HKITP will continue to ensure that its staff members are always equipped with up-to-date knowledge and skills to respond to emergency situations.
Ends/Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:05
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