Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    HONG KONG, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Hong Kong held an inter-departmental exercise simulating a suspected food poisoning incident involving 24 sportsmen at the Olympic Village on Friday to test the city's Olympic preparedness.

    The scenario of Exercise Equator, conducted by the Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health, unfolded when athletes developed symptoms including nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain after having lunch at the Olympic Village.

    Some of the patients were taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital, about five minutes drive away, for further medical treatment after initial assessment at the Olympic Village clinic while the others received medical attention inside the Village.

    Staff of the Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health and the Food and Environment Hygiene Department joined soon afterwards by carrying out epidemiological investigations and food and hygiene inspections.

    Dr. York Chow, secretary for food and health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said the exercise was "quite successful" after observing the operation together with Director of Health Lam Ping-yan.

    The drill "could strength interdepartmental communication, enhance ability and boost confidence of frontline staff in handling public health incidents," Chow said, adding that organizers of the Olympic events care most about food poisoning incidents.

    More than 100 people from the 5 government departments and organizations as well as the Hospital Authority, the Equestrian Company and the Royal Park Hotel took part in the drill, with 30 observers from both the southern Chinese city and the mainland.

    Chow told reporters he was confident that local authorities shall have enough man power and facilities to deal with possible health incidents at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events in August.

    The HKSAR government has been committed to holding successful the equestrian events as a co-host city for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, he said.

    Director of Health Lam said there is a well-established collaborative mechanism in managing food-poisoning incidents and the exercise allowed the parties to fine-tune contingency plans.

    Chow said the Center for Health Protection will review details of health arrangements for the Olympics to fine-tune its contingent plans after the drill.