Hillfire responses face test

More than 200 people will take part in the first hillfire exercise simulating the Pat Sin Leng tragedy which killed two teachers and three students in February.

The exercise, organised by seven government departments including Fire Services, the police, the Government Flying Service and the Hospital Authority, will be held on High Junk Peak near Clear Water Bay on October 24.

Officer-in-charge Lee Chee-chung said 35 hikers would be 'trapped by fire', while others would 'fall from a cliff and suffer burns'.

Mr Lee, deputy chief fire officer of the Kowloon division, said the exercise was designed to test communication between government departments following the recommendations put forward by Coroner John Saunders in June.