The Buildings Department can attest to the fact that the Mobile Command Unit (MCU) is extremely useful given its ability to serve as a workplace for staff to discuss and plan their work and provide them with the key equipment and tools they need to carry out on-site inspections.

This communication and co-ordination centre on wheels is often deployed for responding to major emergencies as it serves as a command post or shelter to support the officers who carry out investigations, enforcement operations and associated work.

Command unit

Buildings Department Structural Engineer (Public Education & Publicity) Vanis Kwong explained why he describes the MCU as a mobile mini conference room.

“The MCU is equipped with information technology equipment and an audio visual system with Wi-Fi connection to our internal network for holding meetings, retrieval of information and data processing,” he explained.

“There are two video monitors that can broadcast local news round-the-clock to keep our colleagues informed about the updated news and surrounding situation. Also there is an interactive panel which is a touch screen computer connecting to our intranet.”

He added that the officers can use the panel to retrieve building records and add mark-ups on it to facilitate their briefing, reporting and presentation works.

Advanced facility

Furthermore, a camera is equipped on the roof of the MCU, assisting the inspection work on the exterior of buildings. The roof camera offers all-direction inspection during both daytime and nighttime.

The rear part of the specially-designed vehicle is equipped with a large storage area to stock inspection equipment and tools that include safety shoes and helmets, light torches, tapping hammers, binoculars, electronic distance measurers and so on.

Mr Kwong pointed out that the officers can use such equipment and tools to assist with their inspections.

On-site operation

Last year, the MCU was deployed to respond to a fire incident at a warehouse in Kwan Tei North Village in Fanling and the joint operation for removal of scaffolding erected in the rear lanes of Ma Tau Wai Road. 

It was also put to good use in March this year when a No. 4 alarm fire broke out at a construction site on Middle Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. 

“We find it very useful as it serves as a workplace for our colleagues to discuss and plan their work and provides inspection equipment and tools to the on-site colleagues for carrying out the inspections,”

“It also provides a power supply for electronic equipment such as small unmanned aircrafts and enables the information obtained from site to be sent to our office immediately for further follow-up actions.”

Promotional vehicle

As an added bonus, the multifunction vehicle is used to help carry out public education and publicity events. As a prime example, the department often parks it inside school campuses or around private residential estates to disseminate building safety messages by way of playing promotional videos.

The main idea is to strengthen the public’s understanding of building safety and build up their sense of responsibility towards building repair and maintenance.

The department also hopes to enhance people’s awareness of their living environment so that society can work together to maintain building safety.