When will the HKO activate emergency radiation monitoring?

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) will initiate emergency radiation monitoring to assist assessment of nuclear accident consequences and consideration of necessary countermeasures whenever it is notified that a nuclear accident has occurred or may occur at Guangdong Nuclear Power Station (GNPS) and/or Lingao Nuclear Power Station (LNPS) through the following channels:

1. Notification by Guangdong^(*)

   In the event of off-site nuclear emergency, the relevant party in Guangdong will inform HKO immediately.

   • Emergency classification at nuclear power plant

2. Notification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)^(*)

   China is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident. Under this Convention, China is obliged to inform the IAEA of any accident at a nuclear facility from which a release of radioactive material occurs or is likely to occur that may have transboundary radiological consequences. Subsequently, the HKO will receive the information from the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna.

3. HKO's Radiation Monitoring Network (RMN)

   The RMN, consisting of twelve monitoring stations, is operated by the HKO to continuously monitor the ambient gamma radiation levels in Hong Kong. An alarm will sound at the HKO Headquarters if there is a significant increase in the ambient radiation level at any of the stations. Such an increase can be of a meteorological origin and need not be due to an accidental release of radioactive materials from the nuclear power stations. Additional radiation measurements or further information on the status of the nuclear power stations may be necessary to identify the cause of the alarm.

   • Radiation Monitoring Network (RMN)

4. Water Supplies Department's On-line Water Contamination Monitoring Systems at Muk Wu

   The Water Supplies Department (WSD) operates two identical On-line Water Contamination Monitoring Systems at Muk Wu Pumping Station to monitor incoming water from Guangdong. Alarms will sound at Central Control Systems at the HKO and WSD if there is a significant increase in the radiation level. The HKO and WSD will arrange further analysis of water samples to identify the cause of the alarm.

   • On-line Water Contamination Monitoring Systems
   • Water Supplies Department (WSD)

5. Notification by the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) and the Hong Kong Nuclear Investment Company (HKNIC) concerning a possible nuclear incident at GNPS

   In case of a loss or impending loss of all or a portion of the electric supply from a power source outside Hong Kong, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the HKO will be alerted by the CLP System Control Centre at Tai Po according to an established notification system for power interruptions. Further clarification on events of the GNPS can be obtained from the HKNIC.

   • CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP)
   • Hong Kong Nuclear Investment Company (HKNIC)

6. Reports from travellers, media enquiries and other sources (including rumours)

   Sources of information include reports from travellers near the nuclear power stations, media enquiries about abnormal events at the nuclear power stations and injured workers from the nuclear power stations being medically evacuated to Hong Kong and etc.