Hong Kong to Conduct Two Major Drills at Huanggang Port

Hong Kong's revamped Huanggang border crossing will undergo two additional large-scale drills later this month, testing immigration clearance under "harsher scenarios" with up to 20,000 civil servants participating. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung announced the exercises on Monday, emphasizing their focus on simulating peak traveller flows and refining operational readiness.

Addressing Issues from Earlier Drills

Tang revealed that previous drills, held last Thursday and Saturday, exposed several logistical shortcomings, including insufficient notices, a lack of benches, and crowd congestion at the transport interchange. While these problems have since been addressed, Tang acknowledged that congestion could still occur if queuing arrangements at the interchange are not optimized. Authorities plan to strengthen notices, improve queuing systems, and enhance crowd control measures to mitigate these risks.

The Saturday drill involved 5,000 civil servants and replicated typical weekend passenger flows at the port. Tang noted that overall, the exercises were smooth, thanks to the port building's ample space, which enhances its capacity to handle large numbers of travellers.

Counterterrorism Preparedness

In addition to testing immigration processes, the Saturday drill included a cross-departmental counterterrorism exercise. This simulated a scenario involving two terrorists, one posing as a tourist carrying dangerous goods and an accomplice. The exercise aimed to ensure coordinated responses across departments in handling security threats.

Why It Matters

The revamped Huanggang Port is a critical gateway for cross-border travel between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. These drills are part of efforts to ensure the port's readiness to manage high traveller volumes efficiently and securely. The upcoming exercises will push operational limits, providing authorities with valuable insights to further refine systems and address potential bottlenecks before the port's full-scale reopening.

Source: South China Morning Post