Hong Kong holds first meeting of new top-level anti-terrorism group

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has chaired the first meeting of a high-level counterterrorism group, later announcing that a large exercise to simulate terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure will be held this month.

The Chief Executive Counter-terrorism Steering Group discussed the progress of various groups under a new three-tier mechanism, global and local threats, and the directions and strategies of the government’s counterterrorism work, a statement released after Wednesday’s meeting said.

“As a metropolitan city, Hong Kong may also face threats under the global and local terrorism landscape,” Lee said.

“As such, we must further strengthen the [Hong Kong] government’s overall counterterrorism work.”

It was the first top-level meeting under the three-tier anti-terrorism mechanism introduced in last year’s policy address to boost the city’s defences against evolving global terrorism threats.

The city’s No 2 official, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok are deputy chairmen of the steering group. The top-tier group comprises ministers, department chiefs, heads of the disciplined services and national security officials.