Hong Kong stages first counterterrorism drill at redeveloped Huanggang crossing

Hong Kong authorities have conducted a counterterrorism drill at the revamped Huanggang border crossing and used a new “crowd flow” test to simulate an unexpected surge in passenger numbers, with about 5,000 civil servants taking part.

The counterterrorism exercise on Saturday was the first such drill to be held at the redeveloped checkpoint building.

A Security Bureau spokesman said civil servants from around 30 bureaus took part in the drill, which aimed to test authorities’ management of passenger and vehicular traffic and bolster emergency response.

“The Hong Kong 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 spokesman said.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung was on site to supervise the exercise and held a meeting afterwards to review the drill procedures for subsequent tests.

The exercise began with a test where participants entered and left the border crossing building after taking public transport and queued to check crowd-control management arrangements. A test involving people and vehicles going in and out of the crossing was also held.

Authorities also implemented a new “crowd concentrated-flow test,” in which many participants stayed on designated floors as instructed to simulate an unforeseen surge in passengers arriving at the checkpoint.