Strategic positioning

Andy Kung Chak-man
Senior Manager (Infection, Emergency & Contingency) / Major Incident Control Centre Coordinator, Hospital Authority Head Office

Having worked through major incidents including the swine flu outbreak, the Lamma Island ferry collision, the Tai Po Road bus crash, and the COVID-19 epidemic, the head of the Major Incident Control Centre (MICC) Andy Kung is a veteran with important lessons to pass on. The diagnostic radiographer switched his career pathway to the Infection, Emergency & Contingency Department 17 years ago, only one year after it was established. “What the MICC and a radiographer have in common is that both focus on positioning and timing,” he explains. “When radiographers take medical images for patients, they must be captured from the correct position to make a correct image. When an incident occurs, the MICC is required to conduct pre-positioning before we respond.”

Major incidents usually strike quickly and are unexpected. The biggest challenge for the MICC is that every mission is unprecedented, Andy reflects. The Manila hostage crisis was a particularly memorable event. “Our overseas rescue team which consisted of doctors, nurses and clinical psychologists were mobilised swiftly. It set off for Manila that night while I stayed in MICC to coordinate with government departments and the Hospital Authority (HA), as well as giving support to the rescue team,” he recalls. “Later, during the COVID-19 epidemic, the HA’s medical team brought back stranded Hong Kong residents from the Diamond Princess cruise ship and Wuhan, using their previous experience as a reference point.”

Colleagues have to keep all their wits about them in contingency events. “Team spirit is crucial. A contingency event is never the burden of a single individual. I am particularly grateful to the colleagues of the accident and emergency departments for stepping in to help.” He says there is always room for improvement, and agrees with HA former Chief Executive Dr Leung Pak-yin once said handling a major incident is like performing surgery: Practice makes perfect.

Andy believes objectives can only be achieved by embracing mission and establishing a clear direction. “X-ray films used to be lost from time to time, for instance,” he says. “Instead of finding the lost films, it would be better to explore the introduction of digitalisation. It could benefit multiple departments, colleagues and patients, create a win-win situation for all parties.” Andy encourages younger colleagues to unleash their creative thinking and express their opinions boldly as they pursue their career goals.