「嚴重急性呼吸系統綜合症」(沙士)在2003年3月爆發，觸動了每個香港人的心靈和生活。瞬間十年，回望過去，機電工程署對每位員工面對挑戰時作出的努力，仍深感驕傲。同事在整個疫症爆發期間，表現了強烈的責任感、靈活性和靈敏的反應，贏得了客戶和社會各界的讚賞。

疫症爆發期間，機電工程署與各大醫院攜手合作，維持緊密的伙伴關係，共同對抗「沙士」。我們有三位同事在醫院工作時不幸染病，在同事及上司的支持與鼓勵下，他們走出陰霾，經治療後已返回工作崗位。對於他們當時所作的貢獻，我們深表感謝。

在那段艱難的抗疫時期，我們在眾多任務中，最重要的就是提升醫院管理局（醫管局）的防護設施。我們的團隊無懼感染「沙士」的危險，士氣高昂，勇敢向前。駐院員工勤奮地工作，用心加強醫院病房的通風設施；而且，我們替醫院內的「沙士」病房安裝負氣壓系統，防止病毒擴散，污染空氣，此舉不僅保障了市民大眾的健康，還為醫院內每位緊守崗位的醫護人員加強保護。在「沙士」爆發初期，這些防護措施大部分都在短短的一個半月內完成。

此外，機電工程署還為邊境檢查站採購和安裝了體温探測儀；蒐集空氣樣本，協助調查疫症在淘大花園及高威閣爆發的原因；又加強檢查和清洗客戶場地的供暖、通風和空調系統，以及政府車輛，包括救護車的冷氣喉管。

雖然「沙士」已遠去十年，我們仍時刻保持警覺。在2007年啟用、位於瑪嘉烈醫院的全港首間傳染病中心，我們一直受醫管局委託，為該中心負責操作和維修保養工作。當人類豬型流感於2009年6月襲港時，我們亦協助醫管局在指定流感診所加裝通風設施，檢查空氣淨化器，為醫管局轄下各家大醫院校正紅外線溫度計，並提供其他備用的緊急應變支援。

十年前，我們的同事展示了無畏的精神和熱誠的服務態度，這種精神長存至今。此刻，我們憑藉過去寶貴的經驗，更加準備就緒，迎接新的挑戰。



Ten Years after SARS:
Stronger and Well Prepared

The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in March 2003 touched the lives of everyone in Hong Kong. A decade on from the epidemic, we look back with pride at how EMSD staff rose to the challenge. Staff demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility as well as flexibility and responsiveness throughout the outbreak, winning the appreciation of clients and the wider community.

During the outbreak, EMSD worked hand in hand with hospitals as close partners to combat SARS. Three of our colleagues unfortunately contracted SARS while working in hospitals. With the encouragement and support from colleagues and their supervisors, they rode out the storm and returned to their duties after medical treatment. We had deep appreciation to their contributions during the time.

Among the many tasks we undertook during that difficult time, the most significant involved upgrading Hospital Authority (HA) facilities. Undaunted by the risk of SARS infection, our team kept their morale high. Our resident staff worked diligently to enhance ward ventilation facilities in hospitals. At the same time, we also implemented negative pressure systems in SARS wards at hospitals to prevent the SARS virus from contaminating the air, protecting not only the general public but also the dedicated hospital healthcare staff. All these were completed within a short period of one and a half months during the early stage of the SARS outbreak.

EMSD also procured and installed infrared thermal detectors at border control points; collected air samples to aid the investigation of the outbreaks at Amoy Gardens and Koway Court; and stepped up the inspection and cleaning of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems at client venues and of air-conditioning pipes in government vehicles, including ambulances.

Though SARS is now behind us, we continue to be vigilant. We were entrusted by HA to operate and maintain Hong Kong’s first Infectious Disease Centre, which opened in the Princess Margaret Hospital in 2007. When the human swine flu pandemic hit Hong Kong in June 2009, we assisted HA in ventilating its designated flu clinics and checking air purifiers, calibrating the infrared thermometers used at major hospitals as well as providing other stand-by contingency support.

Ten years ago our colleagues demonstrated the spirit of service with great courage and dedication. This spirit has lived on. Drawing on our valuable experience, we are now even better prepared to take on new challenges.