Analytical & Advisory Services Division

[ About the Section | Responsibilities | Key Personnel |
  Quality Assurance | Key Instruments | Targets and Key Indicators ]
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Radiochemistry, Hazardous Substances
& Emergency Response Section

About the Section

This section co-operates closely with the Hong Kong Observatory in the radiation monitoring of environmental samples and with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in the surveillance of radioactive contamination of foodstuff. To backup the Government's Daya Bay Contingency Plan the Section is endowed with the responsibility of training the laboratory colleagues to provide emergency service in a nuclear mishap. In addition, the Section analyses samples from the Fire Services Department for classifications under the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations. Advisory and on-site investigation services are also provided on a round-the-clock basis for any accidents that involve hazardous chemicals.

Responsibilities

This Section lends technical support to the Hong Kong Observatory in the Environmental Radiation Monitoring Programme (ERMP) and provides professional advice as well as analytical services to the Fire Services Department on the classifications of Dangerous Goods (DG).

Key Personnel

Senior Chemist : Dr. T T Kam
(Tel No.: 3104-3050 E-mail: ttkam@govtlab.gov.hk)

Chemist and Scientific Safety Officer
(E-mail address)		 Tel. No.
Mr. K N Hui, Chemist
(knhui@govtlab.gov.hk)		 3104-3054
Dr. H C Leung, Chemist
(hcleung2@govtlab.gov.hk)		 3104-3053

Dr. T O Man, Chemist
(toman@govtlab.gov.hk)

 3188-3521
Mr. C K Tang, Scientific Safety Officer
(cktang@govtlab.gov.hk)		 2762-3882

Quality Assurance

About 15% of samples are for QC purpose.

Key Instruments

Set-up for electro-deposition of plutonium in sample
Set-up for electro-deposition
of plutonium in sample

The following instruments are used routinely by the Section:

  • Gamma-ray spectrometers with high purity Ge detector
  • Low-level alpha/beta gas-proportional counter system
  • Alpha spectrometer
  • Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer
  • Flash point testers
  • Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer
  • Gas chromatograph-Fourier Transform infrared spectrometer
  • Gas Chromatograph with various detectors such as ECD, FID, FPD and TCD
  • X-ray Diffractometer

Targets and Key Indicators

Key Performance Measures Relating to the Statutory Testing of Dangerous Goods

Targets

Testing of Dangerous Goods Targets 2009
(Actual)		 2010
(Actual)		 2011
(Plan)
Dangerous goods within reporting time averaging 14 working days (%)* 95 99 97 95

*  Different samples require different analytical procedures, thus different reporting time applies. The quoted number of working days required represents an average of reporting time for the different types of samples / test requests within the category, while the target (in percentage) is the total compliance rate of the concerned samples / test requests within a particular category against their respective targets.

Key Indicators

Key Indicators for Statutory Testing of Dangerous Goods

Tests Performed on Dangerous Goods 2009
(Actual)		 2010
(Actual)		 2011
(Estimate)
Dangerous goods 3,616 3,683 5,000

Key Performance Measures Relating to the Advisory and Investigative Services of Radioactivity Monitoring Samples

Targets

Testing of Radioactivity Monitoring Samples Targets 2009
(Actual)		 2010
(Actual)		 2011
(Plan)
Radioactivity monitoring samples within reporting time averaging 12 working days (%)* 95 99 99 95

*  Different samples require different analytical procedures, thus different reporting time applies. The quoted number of working days required represents an average of reporting time for the different types of samples / test requests within the category, while the target (in percentage) is the total compliance rate of the concerned samples / test requests within a particular category against their respective targets.

Key Indicators

Key Indicators for Advisory and Investigative Services of Radioactivity Monitoring Samples

Tests Performed on Radioactivity Monitoring Samples 2009
(Actual)		 2010
(Actual)		 2011
(Estimate)
Radioactivity monitoring samples 4,351 4,295 4,700

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