RADIATION treatment centres have been set up at two Hong Kong hospitals to cope with casualties in the event of an accident at the Daya Bay nuclear plant, which will be officially opened within the next few days.
Dr Yau Hon-hung, head of Tuen Mun Hospital's accident and emergency department, said the specially-equipped rooms in the Tuen Mun and Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital would be able to deal with radiation caused by an explosion at the plant.
Dr Yau said: ''Hong Kong citizens and foreign staff working at Daya Bay would have the option of being brought to the territory for treatment following an accident.
''But we would expect the numbers directly affected in this group to be small and so we believe the facilities in place will be sufficient.'' Both hospitals, two of the newest in the territory, were built with the radiation treatment centres next door to the accident and emergency departments.
The centres, which have stood empty since they were built except during training exercises, are divided into contaminated and ''clean'' areas.
Dr Yau said: ''We have to be ready for any accident that may occur at the plant but, of course, we hope the room will never be used.'' Equipment inside the room will constantly monitor the radiation levels of staff and patients.
