Mission control: Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee inspect the fallback Multi-Agency Co-ordination Centre at the Civil Aid Service headquarters in Yau Ma Tei.

All parties involved in Hong Kong's Olympic Equestrian Events are primed to ensure they are held smoothly and safely, Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang says.

Mr Tang and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee partook in the last of a series of exercises today to prepare Hong Kong for the events next month.

He said the drills are important to test the workability of the response plans of multiple government bureaux, departments and agencies in various contingency scenarios, as well as the effectiveness of overall co-ordination. They have also provided a good opportunity for staff to practise response procedures and identify areas for fine-tuning.

Code-named Equinox VII, today's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear field exercise was launched at the Sha Tin Olympic Equestrian Venue. Nine departments, along with the Equestrian Company, were involved in the drill in which six contingency control centres were activated. Representatives from more than 30 other government departments and related agencies were present to observe the exercise.

It saw a mock chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear device activated in the Sha Tin venue shortly before an event, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries and about 400 spectators being contaminated.

The Equestrian Company, and Police and Fire Services Departments, swung into immediate rescue and evacuation operations. The Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was dispatched to the scene and made the device safe.

Decontamination of the contaminated spectators was conducted at nearby Sha Tin Fire Station while the injured were treated at the scene and transported to hospital. The scene was later decontaminated to ensure it was safe to enter.