About 600 experts and delegates in emergency response, paramedic services, medical professions and fire engineering from various countries and regions are participating in the Fire Asia 2024 international conference in Hong Kong.

The participants comprise delegations of the Belt & Road Initiative and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 19 countries, including the General Administration of Civil Protection Director General from Egypt’s Ministry of Interior, as well as heads or senior officials of emergency or fire departments in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. 

Themed "Collaboration & Technology - Better Prepare the Community for Emergency", the conference is being held from today to July 12.

It covers various topics, including new approaches to disaster management and fire safety measures, collaboration in the Greater Bay Area and emergency preparedness in the Belt & Road region, as well as the latest research in fire engineering and emergency medical services.

The three-day conference is also one of the mega events being held in the city this month. 

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung officiated at the opening ceremony this morning.

While addressing those gathered at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that emergency preparedness is essential to protecting an economy and its people from the impact of wide-ranging disasters, crises and other emergencies.

“An effective emergency management system helps mitigate disruptions to essential services, economic stability and social order. In today's interconnected world, the threats of emergencies and disasters could be cross-border by nature. Regional and international teamwork play an important role in reducing risks and enhancing resilience.

“To that end, just last month, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, together with the governments of Guangdong Province and Macao SAR, signed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Emergency Management Co-operation & Greater Bay Area Emergency Response Operation Co-operation Framework Agreement,” Mr Chan added.

Under this framework, a government-led co-operation mechanism for emergency response is being set up to enhance the respective governments’ ability to cope with accidents, natural disasters and other crises that affect Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, he explained.

Mr Chan also pointed out that a task force will be established later this year, which will review the co-operation experience to develop a long-term emergency-management plan for the bay area as a whole.

Moreover, the Chief Secretary made it clear that the Belt & Road and ASEAN also present ample opportunities for regional and global collaboration.

“The Belt & Road's extensive infrastructure networks - from roads and railways to ports and much more - can enable the rapid deployment of emergency response personnel and resources across borders during crises,” he said.

The Fire Services Department noted that the conference exemplified the international co-operation and exchanges that could make a difference, regionally and globally, and serves to tell the China story and the Hong Kong story well.