The quarantine personnel in the Penny's Bay isolation camp escaped, and the security staff was only a quarter remaining, the Department of Health warned

01 Investigation

Written by: Li Yinglin

2021-05-29 08:00

Last update date: 2021-05-29 08:00

The Penny's Bay Quarantine Center occurred on the 23rd of this month when quarantine persons escaped, exposing a security loophole.

"Hong Kong 01" combined multiple sources and found that before the incident, one of the companies responsible for the third phase of the quarantine center's security work was unable to provide enough manpower in mid-May, and one of them could only provide the Department of Health as required one day earlier. One quarter of the staff was on duty, and management was chaotic.

In reply, the Department of Health confirmed that the number of people on duty provided by the security company that day did not meet the contract requirements and had issued a written warning to the security company involved.

The department also pointed out that when a large number of quarantine persons moved in, the security company was asked to urgently increase manpower, but the company failed to cooperate in time.

Federal security is currently responsible for the security work of Phase 3A of the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center.

"Hong Kong 01" obtained the tender documents for the third phase of the security work by the Department of Health. The department requested that the two areas of 3A should have 35 permanent security guards and 18 and 17 backup security guards respectively. A total of 40 security guards are required in the two areas during the day.

At one time in mid-May, only one quarter of the man was on duty as stipulated in the contract

It is reported that the federal security guards suddenly reduced the manpower of the security guards on May 11, which caused dissatisfaction with the arrangement, and the security guards then initiated an industrial action.

It is understood that phase 3A of the quarantine center was moved earlier on that day. There were only 11 security guards working, and only a quarter of the manpower stipulated in the contract. The security company needs to temporarily deploy security guards from other areas to fill the vacancies.

"Hong Kong 01" obtained the tender documents for the third phase of the security work from the Department of Health, requiring that the two areas of 3A of the department require 20 security guards during the day, that is, a total of 40 people are on duty.

(Provided by interviewee)

However, a frontline employee of a federal security guard revealed that the company did have a pay cut, but the reason for the lack of manpower was not the industrial action caused by the pay cut, but the new arrival of the day, the supervisor was late, and the employees who were supposed to go to work were suspected of being due to the weather. It’s too hot to "snap the bottom" so that no one goes to work sooner.

The staff member stated that it was "the first time I saw such a shortage of people." On that day, 10 night guards stayed at the company and dispatched personnel to take over. The earlier supervisor involved in the incident was later dismissed.

"Hong Kong 01" integrated multiple sources and found that the federal security guard responsible for the security work of the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center Phase 3A was unable to provide enough manpower on May 11, and could only provide a quarter of the manpower required by the Department of Health that day. .

(Profile picture / Photo by Liao Huixiong)

Department of Health: Written warning has been issued

The Department of Health replied to "Hong Kong 01" stating that the security company had changed early on May 11 and the number of people on duty provided did not meet the contract requirements. The quarantine center command station immediately checked with the company's person in charge, and the security company would later make up for the manpower owed. .

The department stated that after receiving the report from the Civil Security Team, it had issued a written warning to the security company involved.

The Department of Health also pointed out that the quarantine center once asked the security company to urgently increase manpower when a large number of quarantine persons moved in to assist in the delivery of materials delivered by the residents’ family members, but the security company failed to make corresponding manpower deployment in a timely manner.

It is understood that each security contract of the quarantine center currently lasts for 33 days, that is, the Department of Health needs to invite the security company to bid for the next contract every month.

According to the Department of Health, when selecting contractors for security services contracts, qualification checks will be conducted, including consideration of whether the contractors have missing records when performing government contracts in the past.

According to the department, in response to the complete completion of the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center, an open tender has been conducted for the relevant security contract. Before the results of the tender are announced, the contract will be flexible to meet the daily operational needs of the quarantine center.

After the large-scale shortage of manpower occurred, the federal security guard posted on a Facebook page on May 12 to recruit security guards from the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center at a daily salary of 650 yuan.

(Federal Security Facebook image)

Post a post to recruit staff: there are not many vacancies at the moment

The federal security guard involved is also responsible for the security work of the Lei Yue Mun Quarantine Center. After the large-scale shortage of manpower occurred, the company posted on its Facebook page on May 12 to recruit security guards from the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center at a daily salary of 650 yuan, indicating that "Food is delivered every day."

The reporter pretended to be recruited and inquired with the federal security staff. The staff pointed out that "there are not many vacancies now, there may be more before." He also admitted that he had recruited security at a price of 1,000 yuan earlier, but said that he wanted to hire retired civil servants and disciplinary forces. High price.

The staff said that the staff hired on a daily basis are not permanent workers, but substitute workers. The level of security manpower also depends on the seniority of the person concerned and the experience of working in the quarantine center: "If you have a novice or a familiar one, if you use 700 yuan, Of course, it is to hire skilled craftsmen.” He also pointed out that the company has provided security work for the first, third, and fourth phases of the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center, and the job candidates will be assigned to which job "see the prophet."

"Hong Kong 01" is making inquiries with federal security about the incident and has not yet received a reply.

▼A food poisoning outbreak broke out at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center earlier ▼

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A quarantine person fled the Department of Health: no direct relationship with manpower

In the third phase of the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center, which is responsible for security by the federal government, a 34-year-old quarantine person broke through the security line on the evening of the 23rd of this month, escaped from the quarantine center and boarded a private car to leave. He was not taken by the police until the afternoon of the next day. Retrieved in Tseung Kwan O.

The Department of Health replied that there were adequate security guards on the night of the incident, and the management staff of the quarantine center immediately investigated after the incident and believed that the incident was not directly related to the staff of the quarantine center.

Federal Security was established in 2016, and in the past it has invested in many government security contracts.

According to the company's website, the company's directors and management are experienced and engaged in security professionals, and most of the management has been a disciplined force.

Feng Guanghan, the sole director of the company, owns 15 companies, many of which involve taxi and real estate businesses.

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