50,000 Attend Stress Test at Kai Tak Sports Park for Operational Readiness Ahead of Official Launch

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test

A large-scale stress test was held again tonight (February 4) at the Main Stadium of Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), with 50 000 spectators attending the Hong Kong Premier League U22 football match between Kitchee and North District. The exercise was conducted to assess the operational readiness of the Main Stadium and its surrounding facilities for sports events with maximum attendance, with a view to ensuring full preparedness for the official commissioning of the Sports Park.

Similar to the previous large-scale stress tests, the drill was co-ordinated by the Exercise Team of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and covered five major testing and evaluation areas, namely security screening and ticket checks; venue signage and designated seating arrangements; inter-agency co-ordination in response to emergencies; various crowd management measures; and passenger flow management by public transport operators.

During the exercise, the Fire Services Department (FSD) simulated two fire incidents of varying scales, aiming to test the communication and response capabilities of Fire Services personnel in co-ordination with the Police, venue security and other emergency response teams. The Police also simulated an emergency incident involving public safety and security to test the response of all stakeholders.

The stress test was scheduled for a weekday evening, with a slight overlap between the entry time and rush hour after work. Meanwhile, the exercise concluded at a later time, with most participants choosing to leave the park immediately afterwards, thereby increasing the pressure on the transport system. In addition, the Police again implemented new crowd management measures, such as using large display panels along the exit routes to MTR stations to convey crowd management information (including the latest public transport arrangements and estimated waiting times), playing music and deploying police officers to provide real-time information on the spot to help participants leave safely and orderly.

With the close collaboration of all parties, the exercise proceeded smoothly, achieving the anticipated results and testing objectives. The public transport system and surrounding facilities were able to divert the large passenger flows within a short period of time, allowing participants to enter and leave the venue in an orderly manner.

The retractable roof of the Main Stadium was opened for the first time during the stress test, aligning the testing time and mode more closely to the actual conditions of sports events, and the volume of noise during the test was found to be within the acceptable sound level.

A total of 50 000 civil servants, government employees and members of community groups simulated crowd flows during the test. A number of bureaux, departments and organisations, including the HKPF, the FSD, the Transport Department, the Civil Aid Service, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the MTR Corporation Limited and the KTSP Limited, also sent their staff to participate in the exercise.

In future test events and stress tests co-ordinated by the Exercise Team, the “Red Team” concept will continue to be applied to identify vulnerable areas, working in concert with relevant bureaux, departments and organisations to continuously review and enhance various aspects, with a view to ensuring the smooth and orderly operation of the KTSP upon its official commissioning.

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Kai Tak Sports Park holds another large-scale stress test Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases