One of the keys to success in anti-epidemic work lies in the proper isolation of high-risk individuals. In February 2020, the Government planned to convert the Junior Police Call Permanent Activity Centre and Integrated Youth Training Camp (Centre) at Pat Heung, Yuen Long into quarantine facilities. The EMSD was responsible for enhancing the water and power supply, lighting, broadcasting and sewage treatment systems, etc., of the Centre, as well as providing advice on electrical and mechanical (E&M) equipment for the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD).
At the Centre, which was the former Fire Services Training School built in 1968, many of the original facilities were no longer in use. The first stage of works involved conversion of four quarters into 88 quarantine units, while at the second stage, 120 quarantine units were built via the modular integrated construction method.
The conversion of the Centre into quarantine facilities for accommodating hundreds of people for a long stay implied an increase in the demand for fresh water supply. In this connection, the EMSD had to install additional water pumps for the water supply system. However, it would normally take two to three months, from order to delivery, to get the equipment. The team responded quickly and finally got suitable equipment from the stock of other sub-divisions to meet the urgent demand for water supply. Besides, as the people placed under quarantine are high-risk individuals and their domestic sewage must be handled with care, the EMSD also enhanced the sewage treatment system of the Centre. Apart from setting up an overflow alarm system for the sewage holding tanks, the EMSD proactively proposed connecting the local alarm to a remote monitoring panel at the duty room. When the sewage storage nearly reaches the full level, the system will simultaneously issue an alarm from the monitoring panel and send an SMS message to designated management officers. This will allow the client to arrange sewage collection by contractors in time. The EMSD will continue to provide 24-hour technical support to meet the needs of the Centre’s E&M equipment.