Second Large-Scale Drill and Counter-Terrorism and Major Incident Exercise Conducted at Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area

Second large-scale drill and counter-terrorism and major incident exercise conducted at Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area, together with an inter-departmental counter-terrorism and major incident exercise, with a view to further testing the overall management of passenger and vehicular flows at the port building and the public transport interchange (PTI), as well as strengthening the response capabilities of various departments in case of emergencies.

About 5 000 civil servants from around 30 bureaux and departments had been mobilised for this drill. They were instructed to take different modes of public transport to arrive at the port, and then proceeded to the departure hall and the arrival hall of the port building. Subsequently, they followed the instruction to leave the port by taking public transport. Participants and vehicles dispatched by various public transport operators participated in cyclical trials involving more than 250 departures to simulate the flow of people and vehicles arriving and departing from the port.

Participants in the drill simulated queuing for immigration clearance procedures in the departure hall and the arrival hall to test the relevant crowd-control arrangements.

This drill also featured a new "crowd concentrated-flow test". A large number of participants were first held on designated floors as instructed, with a view to creating a short-term unforeseen surge pressure subsequently by simulating a situation where a large number of passengers arrive and proceed to the PTI. This is to test inter-departmental co-ordination arrangements and further test the effectiveness of the management of passenger and vehicular flows and various supporting measures.

During the drill, different types of tests were also featured. These included simulating the operational arrangement of small vehicles crossing the boundary, simulating a large number of passengers queuing in the departure hall to use the clearance facilities, a large number of passengers gathering at the PTI to wait for individual public transport services, the Department of Health's quarantine station discovering suspected cases of infection and requesting ambulancemen to co-operate in handling the situation, and the taxi management arrangements being activated in response to a large number of taxis going to the PTI.

After the flow test, an inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise was conducted at the departure hall on the fifth floor of the port building in the Hong Kong area. The exercise simulated a scenario in which extremists were discovered to be in possession of firearms and ammunition, who then launched a shooting attack, causing mass casualties and requiring immediate evacuation. The exercise aimed to enhance departments' co-ordination and response capabilities in handling terrorism and violence-related intelligence and responding to different forms of terrorist attacks.

Next, different departments conducted a major-incident exercise, which simulated a serious traffic accident on the new connecting road to the port, thereby hindering vehicles from using the original route to enter the port. Traffic was redirected under police instruction to use the southbound route, with one-lane two-way, intermittent access to the port's PTI. Vehicles were also directed to leave the port and return to the urban area.

Representatives from various bureaux, departments and organisations participated in the drill, including the Security Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Transport Department, the Highways Department, the Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the Department of Health, the Fire Services Department, the Architectural Services Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Government Property Agency, the Digital Policy Office, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Civil Aid Service, the Auxiliary Medical Service, and various public transport operators.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, inspected the drill on-site. Immediately after the drill, Mr Tang held a meeting with the participating departments to review the flow and suggestions given by the participants, in order to make further enhancements in subsequent drills.

The drill was conducted smoothly. The HKSAR Government will continue to conduct drills and tests of various scales to improve detailed arrangements to prepare comprehensively for the opening of the port. The HKSAR Government will work closely with the Shenzhen side to press ahead with the various preparatory tasks at full steam. Upon confirmation by both sides that the port is ready for safe and smooth operation, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will finalise the official opening date of the Huanggang Port and make timely announcements to the public.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, inspecting the drill on-site and holding a meeting immediately after the drill with the participating departments to review the flow and suggestions given by the participants, in order to make further enhancements in subsequent drills. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows a major-incident exercise being conducted, in which a serious traffic accident was simulated on the new connecting road to the port. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows a major-incident exercise being conducted, in which a serious traffic accident was simulated on the new connecting road to the port. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows a major-incident exercise being conducted, in which a serious traffic accident was simulated on the new connecting road to the port. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows an inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise being conducted at the departure hall on the fifth floor of the port building in the Hong Kong area. The exercise simulated a scenario in which Customs officers conducting Customs clearance with Millimetre Wave Screening System. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows an inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise being conducted at the departure hall on the fifth floor of the port building in the Hong Kong area. The exercise simulated a scenario in which officers of the Immigration Department made use of the Projectina Spectra Check to verify the authenticity of the suspected forged travel documents. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows an inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise being conducted at the departure hall on the fifth floor of the port building in the Hong Kong area. The exercise simulated a scenario in which the police were engaged in a gunfight with extremists. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows an inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise being conducted at the departure hall on the fifth floor of the port building in the Hong Kong area. The exercise simulated a scenario in which firefighters extinguished a fire. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows the new "crowd concentrated-flow test" in the second drill, simulating a situation where a large number of passengers arrive and proceed to the public transport interchange, so as to test the effectiveness of the management of passenger and vehicular flows and various supporting measures. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows participants moving from the public transport interchange located on the second floor of the port building to the departure hall on the fifth floor. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (August 15) conducted the second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area. Photo shows civil servants from different departments taking different modes of public transport as instructed to reach the public transport interchange located on the second floor of the port building. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 16) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.

In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:

• Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
• Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
• Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
• Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
• Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
• Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.

In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:

• Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
• The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
• Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.

The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.

Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:

• Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
• Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
• Seek shade;
• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.

If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.

Source: AI-found images