Hong Kong would not have enough forensic scientists to carry out investigations and mass victim identification in a major catastrophe, local experts have warned.
There were no more than 200 forensic scientists, mainly from the government laboratory, police and universities, to serve the city of 6.8 million, they said on the sidelines of a conference on forensic scientists yesterday.
Leung Sze-chung, president of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, said this number was considered enough as long as Hong Kong remained a safe city.
'With the current manpower, we are still able to handle disasters of the scale of an air crash,' said Mr Leung, an assistant chemist in the government laboratory's forensic division.
'But for major catastrophes like the September 11 attacks in New York, we would have to seek help from the central government or ask other countries to send forensic experts to help.
'But bear in mind that New York was not able to handle the September 11 attacks by itself. It also needed assistance from Washington and from other states to manage the chaotic situation after the attack.'
