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

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (November 14) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Source: AI-found images