They discussed the importance of planning emergency management and led participants, mostly front-line operational managers, through a series of case studies and exercises. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) Cheung Chi-shum said the course was the first ever organised by the Force dedicated to disaster management. He said despite the Force's top track record in emergency response, it was always important to review disaster management.

"There is a continuous need to review our approach to further enhance our functional capabilities in disaster contingency planning and emergency response.

"From major disasters such as the Lan Kwai Fong incident, the Garley Building fire and the recent air crash at Chek Lap Kok, to smaller-scale ones such as wall collapses, localised landslides and flooding, they all require a swift and correctly structured response to enable the saving of life and at the same time enable speedy recovery from inevitable chaos," Mr Cheung said.

"The scale of such incidents demands the co-ordination of the responding agencies and the efficient mobilisation and use of resources. The command structure must be pre-planned and comprehensive, and most importantly, rehearsed over and over again.

"Being the primary emergency service, it is imperative all Police front-line managers fully appreciate and understand the overall response and their difficult role in handling disasters of any form."

The institute has previously provided training in crisis and disaster management to senior government officers. Mr Cheung said he believed the expertise of the institute's Senior Education Officers, Barry Dean and Nicholas Kanarev who conducted the course, would further develop officers' preparedness for emergencies and disasters.

Aussie address: Nicholas Kanarev and Barry Dean head the disaster-response class

Mr Dean said the course would help enhance disaster response and disaster preparedness capabilities. It included presentations, work group activities and simulation exercises.

"You cannot just be prepared to respond to a disaster. You must also look at how to prevent them, so this course looked at the big picture."

Mr Kanarev said: "Confusion and poor communication are two of the worst things in a disaster situation. You must look at putting something into place to improve communication and reduce confusion. It is about crisis decision making in a disaster environment. And a disaster doesn't just have to be a flood or fire or terrorist attack. It can also be related to relief operations. You must consider fully the risks, vulnerability and hazards."

Mr Dean said he was happy to be back in Hong Kong presenting again.

"This is my seventh or eighth time to give a course here and the thirst for knowledge among the participants is very healthy."



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