Terrorism in Hong Kong: city’s uniformed services tackle home-made explosives and toxic gas as part of combined unit’s first drill
- Operation, code-named Powersky, takes place in Shau Kei Wan on Monday and involves neutralising terrorist cell of four individuals
- Deputy security minister Sonny Au says Hong Kong not immune from global threat of terrorism
Hong Kong being attacked with home-made explosives and toxic chemical gas were among the scenarios as 270 officers in six disciplined services took part in an anti-terrorism drill on Monday.
The intelligence-led operation, code-named Powersky, took place in Lei Yue Mun Park in Shau Kei Wan in the afternoon and involved neutralising a terrorist cell of four individuals.
It was the first exercise conducted since the Interdepartmental Counter Terrorism Unit was established last April.
The deputy security minister, Sonny Au Chi-kwong, said it was important to enhance coordination among the unit and its member departments.
Au stressed that while there was no specific intelligence to suggest Hong Kong was a likely target, public awareness of counterterrorism should be heightened.
“The volatile and rapidly evolving terrorist landscape poses a heightened threat to global security,” Au said, adding the current terrorist threat level in Hong Kong remained moderate.