Safety at Sevens a top level priority
MOUNTAIN rescue equipment would have to be used should anyone in the upper seats at the Hongkong Sevens require medical treatment, police said yesterday.
The angle of the top tier is so steep - about 38 degrees - that a casualty would slip out of an ordinary stretcher, the deputy district commander for Wan Chai, Senior Superintendent Martin Samson, said yesterday.
He expressed concern about the potential dangers at Hongkong Stadium, which is undergoing redevelopment, pointing out that on the upper levels there were no seats on the concrete ledges.
''Someone could fall over the top which is 150 metres above the ground,'' Senior Superintendent Samson said.
''Stewards and police officers will man the top eight rows.'' They will be supported by the Black Watch regiment which will be on alert for under-age drinkers.
''We have made it very clear to the beer vendors not to sell to people under 18 and we will expel any under-age drinker we find,'' Senior Superintendent Samson said.
Police estimate it could take as little as 11 minutes for the complete evacuation of the stadium but Senior Superintendent Samson said this was only a mathematical calculation and did not take into account factors such as the age of the crowd or whether all exits could be used.
Because the stadium was mainly concrete, he said there was little chance of fire, adding all smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinkler systems were working.
He warned people not to move around the stadium via emergency exits at the ends of the concourse as these led only to the perimeter road and people would not be allowed back into the ground.
Surrounding roads have been designated no parking zones.
