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Following is a question by the Hon Lee Wing-tat and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, in the Legislative Council today (June 7):
Question:
It was reported that during a police operation against illegal immigrants in Sai Kung on May 12 this year, five rounds of illuminating flares were fired from police launches to assist in detecting illegal immigrants, and one of them landed on the hillside of Sharp Peak nearby, causing a hill fire. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the Police have issued any guidelines regarding the circumstances under which illuminating flares may be used; if they have, whether the firing of illuminating flares in the above operation complied with the guidelines; if they have not, of the reasons for that;
(b) whether the authorities have reviewed the incident and examined ways to prevent similar occurrence in the future, and whether any police officers should be held responsible for the incident; and
(c) of the number of trees damaged in the hill fire and the area of land involved; whether restoration measures will be taken for the trees damaged in the fire; if so, of the details of such measures, as well as the expenditure and manpower involved?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) There are internal guidelines governing the usage of pyrotechnics, including illuminating flares. They are used for signaling and illumination purposes, and the guidelines concerned require officers to give prior consideration to the fire risk. Under no circumstances are pyrotechnics to be used punitively, and they must not be aimed directly at any person, vessel or conveyance.
Initial enquiries regarding the case in question suggest that the discharge of illuminating flares complied with the Police's internal guidelines. It is believed that the flare which caused the fire malfunctioned and hence fell short of the anticipated landing point.
(b) The Police are conducting a review of the incident. The review will look into the operational plan, weather and sea conditions at the time, and the procedures for the discharge of pyrotechnics to see if there are lessons to be drawn to prevent recurrence of similar incidents in the future. If any breach of the procedural guidelines is established, consideration will be given to taking disciplinary action in respect of the officer(s) concerned.
(c) About 20 hectares of grassland was affected by the hill fire caused by the incident. As the hillside involved is mainly grassland, apart from some common hill shrubs, no trees were affected. Vegetation of the burnt area is expected to regenerate naturally. The Administration will monitor the situation using existing resources.
Ends/Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:37
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