HONG KONG – Sophisticated emergency equipment supplied by China’s Central Government has dramatically enhanced operational capabilities during the extensive recovery efforts following the devastating Tai Po fire, according to Hong Kong police authorities.
The substantial logistical support, coordinated through the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, delivered multiple consignments of specialized rescue gear and medical resources to assist local emergency teams. This intervention provided critical technical reinforcement during one of Hong Kong’s most challenging rescue operations in recent history.
Police Operations Director Lui Kam-ho expressed profound gratitude for the central authorities’ swift response, revealing that mainland agencies had supplied over 30,000 essential items. The shipment included advanced tactical equipment such as professional-grade illumination systems, protective goggles, emergency shelters, and state-of-the-art exoskeleton mechanical suits designed for demanding physical tasks.
Frontline responders faced exceptionally hazardous conditions within the fire-affected structures, where complete power failure had plunged the interior into absolute darkness while significant flooding complicated movement through the debris. Rescue personnel specifically highlighted the exoskeleton technology and high-intensity lighting systems as particularly transformative, enabling extended operational periods in otherwise prohibitive environments.
Beyond the tangible operational benefits, Director Lui emphasized the profound psychological impact of the support, noting that the equipment shipment simultaneously boosted morale among exhausted rescue teams while demonstrating the mainland population’s solidarity with Hong Kong citizens during the crisis.
The Hong Kong Police Force continues to lead ongoing recovery and investigative operations at the Tai Po site, where systematic evidence collection and structural assessments remain underway following the tragic incident.