​The Correctional Services Department (CSD) conducted an emergency exercise, code-named Concord XXI, today (November 30) to test the emergency response of its various units in different scenarios including mass indiscipline of persons in custody, a hostage-taking situation and members of the public attempting to damage correctional facilities at Sha Tsui Correctional Institution.

     The exercise aimed to review the effectiveness of contingency plans implemented at different tier levels of response associated with the development of emergency situations, including command and communication capabilities, tactical response and information dissemination, as well as to test the CSD's co-ordination with other government departments.

     About 150 staff members from the CSD, including the Correctional Emergency Response Team and the Regional Response Team, the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Government Flying Service took part in the exercise. The Assistant Commissioner (Operations) of the CSD, Mr Leung Ka-lun, took command of the whole operation at the department's Central Control Centre in Stanley.

     Mr Leung said that the exercise enhanced the response capabilities of the department and the effectiveness of its emergency support. The exercise also improved inter-departmental communication and co-operation.

     The CSD holds regular emergency exercises of different scales, including at institutional, regional and departmental levels, to enable staff members to get familiar with handling different incidents, so as to provide a safe and secure custodial environment for persons in custody and maintain Hong Kong as one of the safest cities in the world.

Ends/Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:25

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