Various medical departments and agencies will deploy some 2,000 personnel to provide professional services at the equestrian events and have formulated contingency plans to handle terrorist attacks, officials said yesterday.

Chief medical manager of the equestrian events Lam Ping-yan, also the Director of Health, said at a press conference that a number of medical departments and agencies will provide services at the events while keeping in close communication with the Equestrian Company.

The Hospital Authority, Auxiliary Medical Services, Hong Kong St John Ambulance and the Fire Services Department will deploy 450, 540, 600 and 400 personnel respectively.

More staff will be deployed at the Beas River venue as cross-country competitions pose a higher risk of injuries.

"In case of a suspected terrorist attack, experts will be sent to collect evidence. If it is confirmed as a terrorist attack, an emergency system will be activated and spectators may be evacuated," he said.

Lam, however, said he is confident that security arrangements at the venues will be effective in minimizing the risk of a terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, medical coordinator of the events Beatrice Cheng, also a senior manager of the Hospital Authority, reassured that local hospitals are always prepared to admit a large group of patients at any given time, with or without the Olympics.

The Prince of Wales Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been designated to handle injured athletes and support staff.

Meantime, public health coordinator of the events Thomas Tsang, also the controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said a surveillance mechanism will be set up to monitor 10 infectious diseases among the riders.

The syndromes include respiratory infection with fever, bloody diarrhea, gastroenteritis, febrile illness with rash, meningitis or unexplained acute encephalopathy, suspected viral hepatitis, botulism-like syndromes, lymphadenitis with fever, sepsis, and unexpected deaths with a history of fever.

"We will look out for abnormalities among the athletes," he said. "We will disclose the data if it concerns public health."

Auxiliary Medical Services officer Lau Man-kwong said the team has spent more than a year preparing for the events.

He added that new medicines and equipment have been brought specially for the events because some of the drugs that they have been using are prohibited in the Games.

(HK Edition 08/01/2008 page1)