Hong Kong’s embarrassingly poor response to cold snap must not be repeated

Albert Cheng says ill-equipped emergency services, irresponsible ‘frost chasers’ and a foolish decision to close kindergartens and primary schools don’t reflect well on the city

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A firefighter helps a hiker in sub-zero temperatures at Tai Mo Shan. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:49pm, 28 Jan 2016Updated: 4:49pm, 28 Jan 2016

Hong Kong was caught off guard on its coldest day in 59 years last Sunday, despite meteorological warnings from as far away as Japan and the US that the territory would be hit by a severe cold front. Large areas of the world have been affected by the polar vortex which has been linked to global warming. Foreign forecasts even suggested it might snow in subtropical Hong Kong.

READ MORE: Hong Kong frost chasers stranded on Tai Mo Shan – fire department responds to calls for help, trucks blocked by traffic jam

In contrast, the Hong Kong Observatory predicted the temperature would only dip to six or seven degrees Celsius. Probably because of a resulting sense of complacency, no crisis plan was activated. Instead of preparing for the bad weather, people were excited about the prospect of a snow-covered Hong Kong. The public mood was festive, and none of the response units was ready for action.

On Sunday, there was no snow. Yet, the lowest temperature reading was minus two Celsius. Coupled with strong winds and rain, people experienced the coldest day in living memory.

Curious visitors were drawn to Tai Mo Shan to view frost and icicles, and a resulting traffic jam caused access problems for the emergency services. Photo: Felix Wong

Over 300 firefighters, police officers and paramedics were mobilised to respond to distress calls from those trapped on Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest peak. They rescued a total of 129 mountain runners and curious citizens who went “frost-chasing”. Some took along their children on a “family outing”.

Visitors walk up to Tai Mo Shan after the Hong Kong Observatory issued a cold weather warning. Photo: Dickson Lee

The men and women involved in the rescue action deserve our applause and gratitude.

The person in charge at the scene could at least have exercised common sense and spread some rock salt on the icy slopes

Nevertheless, Tai Mo Shan was, by and large, an embarrassing scene. Like those they had to help, rescuers were seen slipping over on the icy slopes, as their standard-issue boots failed to provide any grip. There are only 56 pairs of crampons in the Fire Services Department’s entire inventory. Ambulances and fire engines are neither four-wheel drive nor prepared for icy conditions. A couple of ambulances had to turn away due to the conditions. The Government Flying Service, which managed eight flights that day, also admitted that their helicopters were not designed for such conditions.

This may not be expert advice, but the person in charge at the scene could at least have exercised common sense and spread some rock salt on the icy slopes, to make it easier for people and vehicles to move.