A drill to reinforce collaboration and familiarize staff with contingency measures in the emergency transfer of patients with infectious disease was conducted smoothly in two Hong Kong hospitals Saturday.

It simulated a scenario where a suspected avian flu patient to be transferred to another hospital, according to a government press release.

The contingency plan was activated by the Baptist Hospital with Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Fire Services Department immediately responding, making transfer arrangements via ambulance and preparing an isolation bed, said the release.

Upon the patient's arrival at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, an escort team in protective gear led the ambulance crew with the patient directly to the isolation ward, the release said, adding that about 50 staffs participated in the drill, with Center for Health Protection officers observing.

Being of the regular contingency drills of Queen Elizabeth Hospital to evaluate the hospital response in emergency situations,it was also the first exercise among the hospital, Baptist Hospital and the Fire Services Department to assess the response capability of both hospitals in emergency transfer of patients with infectious diseases, the release noted.

A number of H5N1 infected birds cases have been reported in Hong Kong since the beginning of this years.