Hong Kong’s biggest counterterrorism drill ‘on the right track’, John Lee says

Hong Kong is a potential target for terrorists and must maintain a high level of preparedness at all times, the chief executive has said, after the city successfully held its largest-ever counterterrorism exercise on Thursday at Kai Tak cruise terminal.

The 30-minute live-streamed drill, which involved more than 500 officers and 200 members of the public, was the first large cross-departmental counterterrorism exercise since the government set up a three-tier mechanism to boost Hong Kong’s defences against evolving global threats.

“This exercise is on the right track, it saw the highest number of participating departments ever and was the first to be live-streamed, helping participants feel the importance of their roles and be more engaged, professional and meticulous in their counterterrorism work,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a social media post.

The drill, which covered four scenarios, involved staff from 10 departments, including the six disciplined services, the Hospital Authority, the Marine Department, the government laboratory and the cruise terminal operator.

Lee said the cruise terminal was the right location for the drill because terrorists often targeted critical infrastructure.

“Hong Kong is a highly open and international city, and the free flow of people, goods and capital could make the city a target for terrorists. The government must maintain a high level of preparedness at all times to ensure public safety,” he said.

“Public participation and education are crucial for counterterrorism work, and the live stream this time has effectively boosted public engagement. The arrangement should be reviewed and optimised for the next phase.”

  

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