Nearly 200 government rescuers are ready for a daring 60-metre climb if passengers need emergency treatment on the Lantau cable car.
The 199 emergency workers, including 179 firefighters, would have to scale towers or ascend ropes to reach the overhead cable before sliding to the roof of a stranded car.
Dangling in mid-air and possibly battling strong winds, they would then have to erect equipment on the cabin that would enable the trapped passengers to be lowered to safety.
'Stranded passengers would be lowered one by one and picked up by colleagues on hills or fireboats at sea. It is an air, land and sea rescue operation,' Chief Fire Officer (New Territories) John Lau Shu-lam said, describing the Tung Chung Cable Car Rescue Strategy.
Government Flying Service helicopters can fly firefighters to three helipads built on hills along the 5.7km ride, but cannot perform the rescues because of the strong air currents they generate.
After three months of delays due to glitches and further testing, the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, which provides a 20- to 25-minute trip, was officially opened last month.