Bomb-disposal team, light public housing unit win chief executive’s award

This year's Chief Executive's Award for Exemplary Performance has been bestowed upon two interdepartmental teams: a bomb-disposal unit and the team behind Hong Kong's light public housing scheme. The recognition was presented by city leader John Lee Ka-chiu during a ceremony on Friday, with Lee commending the teams for their steadfast sense of mission and exceptional competence. Their dedication to fulfilling duties and winning public trust through tangible results led to their selection for the prestigious award.

In September, a 1,000-pound wartime bomb containing 500 pounds of high explosives and posing significant destructive potential was discovered at a construction site in Quarry Bay. The bomb, weighing 454 kilograms, threatened the safety of about 2,900 residents living in 18 buildings. A nine-hour operation was required to defuse the bomb, with the bomb-disposal team working alongside the Security Bureau, police, Fire Services Department, and Home Affairs Department.

The operation was particularly challenging due to the proximity of the bomb to residential homes, with a typhoon approaching simultaneously. Assistant Secretary Noel Tai Yan of the emergency support unit highlighted the pressure faced during the operation, emphasizing that failure to resolve the crisis before the typhoon hit would have endangered residents' return home and increased risks for the team.

Henry Lai, Eastern district officer at the Home Affairs Department, expressed his gratitude for the team's efforts, recalling the unforgettable moment when colleagues from the Home Affairs Department and care teams continued working tirelessly after the bomb was successfully defused. The team members shielded residents from the rain while standing in the downpour and accompanying them back to their homes, despite the rain-soaked conditions.

The Chief Executive's Award acknowledges meritorious and exemplary teams or individuals within the civil service, with this year's recipients exemplifying civil servants' professional spirit in rising to challenges and pursuing excellence.