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Call to boost safety measures, MTR staff training and Hong Kong public awareness
Lawmakers and experts raise questions in the aftermath of recent firebomb incident
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Passenger safety was called into question, following Friday night’s peak hour firebomb attack which left at least 19 people injured, some critically.
Lawmakers and experts called for the beefing up of safety measures on trains, enhanced staff training and increased public awareness to better cope with similar situations and emergencies in the future.
The call came as an investigation panel, formed by MTR, pledged to review how the blaze – which was classified as a “major incident” – was handled, and whether communication with passengers and the public was effective. An initial report is expected within a month.
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Michael Tien Puk-sun, chairman of the Legislative Council’s railway subcommittee, criticised MTR staff on a radio show Saturday, saying they were slow to respond during the incident.
“Staff should already have fire extinguishers ready before the train approached the platform,” Tien said, adding that the lag was based on the lack of surveillance systems inside train carriages.
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While dangerous goods such as pressurised gas cylinders or petroleum are forbidden on the MTR and inside stations, no security checks are in place to ensure passengers do not carry the items.
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