While the epidemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has gradually shown signs of easing in Hong Kong, it continues to spread in other parts of the world, leaving no room for complacency in the epidemic prevention efforts as public services of the HKSAR Government resume. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has provided timely and effective support in response to the different needs of government departments, and proactively recommended application of innovation and technology (I&T) solutions, enabling the departments to respond swiftly and continue to serve the community in a safe setting.
In the wake of the epidemic, the Government must gear up to set up fever screening systems at government facilities in the shortest possible time to establish a line of defence against the epidemic for those government departments that were still operating as usual. Take Immigration Tower in Wan Chai as an example. To measure the temperature of its large number of employees and visitors every weekday, the EMSD installed 32 sets of the fever screening system at different locations of the Tower in March 2020. The system is capable of detecting skin surface temperature of people within a specific area. An alert will be sent out if the detected temperature goes above the preset threshold. So far, the EMSD has installed more than 250 sets of the system for various government departments and public organisations.
The E&M InnoPortal played an active role in making rapid deployments possible at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Smart Fever Screening System, which has been installed at a number of locations in the Central Government Offices since February 2020, is actually a solution conceived to match a request made on the E&M InnoPortal in 2018. This unique system incorporates artificial intelligence and thermal imaging technology to detect and track individuals with fever.
In addition, in response to the needs of different clients, the EMSD has provided comprehensive environmental safety solutions. At the end of April 2020, the EMSD arranged spraying of a disinfection coating of atomised photocatalytic nanoparticles for Immigration Tower in Wan Chai, using titanium dioxide particles to decompose germs and pollutants like formaldehyde by photocatalysis.
The risk of cross infection inside lifts has also been of concern. In March 2020, the EMSD introduced contactless operation for lifts at the Tsuen Wan Government Offices and EMSD Headquarters Building. Users may download the QR code of a particular floor or take an image of that QR code in the lobby with a mobile device for future use. When using the lift, users can scan the QR code with the QR code scanner installed on the lift control panel to select the floor, achieving contactless operation.
Moreover, the EMSD has installed ultraviolet disinfection devices for the escalators at the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) Headquarters. Powered by the movement of the handrail belts, the disinfection devices ensure that the ultraviolet disinfection function can be maintained during the operation of the escalators.
For facilities with a higher risk of cross infection, the EMSD has provided solutions accordingly. The laundry workshop at Pik Uk Prison of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) is responsible for washing clothing and bed sheets used by public hospital patients. The EMSD arranged for the client a trial use of the Intelligent Epidemic Prevention Channel developed by the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research to carry out dust removal and full-body disinfection for users entering and leaving the workshop.
Generated by multiple pressurised air nozzles inside the Channel, the accurately adjusted internal airflow circulation blows bacteria and dust particles off the users entering the Channel. Airflow velocity and direction are meticulously controlled inside the Channel to ensure that the air discharged through the Channel is disinfected and filtered. Another set of the Channel is being piloted at the EMSD Headquarters Building.
The supply of surgical masks was once tight in Hong Kong during the epidemic. Therefore, the CSD introduced a number of mask production machines early this year, with the assembly, testing and commissioning carried out by the EMSD. Of the new machines, five sets involving four different models are not the ones currently used by the CSD, and local technical support by original manufacturers are not available. To overcome the technical obstacles, the dedicated team of the EMSD made the best use of relevant engineering knowledge, and sought support via video instructions from manufacturers in the Mainland. Besides, due to the large variety of models, lack of technical manuals provided by original manufacturers, and the fact that the machine parts are vulnerable to wear and tear because of long operation hours, the EMSD needed to conduct testing and commissioning repeatedly to strike a balance between high productivity and reliability. Now the new production lines have already been put into operation successively, stepping up efforts to support the city’s fight against the epidemic.
After the occurrence of a suspected infection case at the CAD Headquarters in March 2020, the EMSD took the initiative to disinfect the relevant air-conditioning units and tried its utmost to support the client. Besides, the EMSD recommended the client to adopt a broad range of anti-epidemic solutions, including contactless door switches, portable ultraviolet air steriliser with medical-grade filtration efficiency, steam disinfection wardrobes, etc. The EMSD was highly recognised for the comprehensive and proactive support provided to the client as appreciation letters were received from the client in March and April 2020.
With resumption of public services by various government departments, it is of vital importance to ensure proper social distancing among users in indoor venues. In this connection, the EMSD has installed occupancy sensor control systems for venues of the Immigration Department. The EMSD sets the maximum number of visitors for each venue based on the social distancing standard, and uses the sensors located at the entrance and exit of the venue to count the visitors remaining in the venue. The internal display screen will show real-time visitor occupancy statistics. Once the number of visitors reaches the upper limit, the display screen at the entrance will show a message of not allowing entry to achieve control of visitor traffic.
Visitor traffic control has also been put in place since public libraries under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department re-opened, where readers in each admission session are reminded to leave the libraries by a message delivered by the public address systems. Tasked to update the contents of the message for about ten public libraries in Kowloon, the EMSD provided corresponding solutions based on each library’s system specifications, and managed to adjust all the systems within just two days.
Under the new norm of battling against the epidemic, the EMSD has played the role of “I&T Facilitator” to swiftly respond to the different needs of clients, so as to provide them with diversified solutions.
At the “E&M InnoTour: Anti-epidemic I&T Applications” Exhibition that took place at the EMSD Headquarters Building from 25 to 27 May 2020, the EMSD, together with colleagues from the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health, the Prince Philip Dental Hospital and the Government Laboratory, explored how I&T solutions can address challenges faced by clients in the healthcare sector during the epidemic. The exhibition attracted more than 300 participants, including Dr. Chan Hon-yee, the Director of Health, and her team. Through on-site demonstrations and interactive exhibits, the participants gained a better understanding of various I&T solutions. More exhibits on anti-epidemic I&T applications have also been adding to our E&M InnoZone. Client departments are welcome to pay a visit to the exhibition as well.
If clients are interested in the above exhibition, please contact Mr. Lam Kam-chun, Senior Engineer, at 2808 3879.
Some of the anti-epidemic I&T solutions are covered in the newly published leaflet on the 2nd 5-year Strategic Plan of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund. You are welcome to visit the website https://www.emsd.gov.hk/minisites/2nd5yearplan/leaflet/issue5/p_all.pdf to find out more about the solutions, as well as our latest progress in E&M digitisation and fostering teams with digitisation practices.