The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit today co-ordinated a large-scale inter-departmental counter-terrorism (CT) exercise codenamed "WISDOMLIGHT" at the Youth Sports Ground in the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP).

The exercise aimed to enhance the co-ordination and response capabilities of various departments in dealing with terrorism-related intelligence and responding to different forms of terrorist attacks.

It also served to remind members of the public to pay more attention to suspicious circumstances in daily life.

The exercise simulated a scenario that extremists launched a knife and shooting attack at the start of a sports event, with a suspected improvised explosive device discovered in the venue.

The ICTU’s six member departments - Police, Customs & Excise Department, Correctional Services Department, Fire Services Department, Government Flying Service, and Immigration Department took part in the exercise.

Personnel from the Civil Aid Service, the Government Laboratory, the Hospital Authority as well as KTSP Limited also actively supported and participated in the exercise. Ten community groups from different sectors and age groups were also invited to join voluntarily.

Briefing the media about today’s exercise, ICTU Police Senior Superintendent Leung Wai-ki said to ensure that Hong Kong had adequate CT preparations and response capabilities, the ICTU and its member departments held CT exercises at different locations on a regular basis in response to the latest terrorism situation.

He explained that as Hong Kong’s newly-built critical infrastructure with major sports facilities, the KTSP carried a significant symbolic meaning. Although there was no intelligence suggesting that it would be a target of attack, departments must make every CT preparation to ensure that events would be held at the venues in a safe and smooth manner.

Mr Leung stressed that the ICTU would regularise and standardise CT exercises and continue to identify appropriate venues for the co-ordination of large-scale inter-departmental CT exercises in the future.

The unit would also co-ordinate with other government departments and public and private organisations as well as inviting citizens and community organisations to participate in these exercises, he added.