Officers help stranded residents return to HK
In response to an emergency call by the Security Bureau shortly after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, 15 officers volunteered to join a Government Support Team to help Hong Kong residents stranded in Tokyo. The support team also comprised eight officers from the Fire Services Department.
Well versed in Japanese, the Force members came from different formations, including Crime Wing, Liaison Bureau and Police Tactical Unit. The Government Support Team left for Tokyo on March 18, accompanied by a senior Security Bureau officer. Upon arrival, the team set up a helpdesk in a hotel in Shinjuku to help Hong Kong residents to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible.
As the situation at the Fukushima nuclear facility began stabilising, less Hong Kong residents were seeking assistance at the helpdesk, enabling the Force team to spare manpower to help locate the Hong Kong residents who were reportedly living in Tokyo but efforts to contact them proved fruitless.
As the situation in Fukushima became stable, the Force team could afford sending 11 members home, leaving four members to help the HKSAR Government distribute food, drinking water and canned food to the earthquake victims. The remaining officers finally returned to Hong Kong in the evening of March 23 after accomplishing their mission.
Heading the Force team was Superintendent (SP) Cheung Mei-hon. Summing the work of his team, he thanked his team members for volunteering to join the Government Support Team with very short notice and for doing their best in helping the stranded Hong Kong residents.
"For our mission in Japan, Operations Wing, Support Wing, Information Systems Wing and Police Tactical Unit Headquarters have provided us with communications equipment, personal protection gear, food, drugs and other necessary resources, fully demonstrating camaraderie and professionalism," SP Cheung noted.
The
Force
Team brings along all the necessary equipment and resources for
its mission in Tokyo