Government completes tabletop exercise under "government-wide mobilisation" level to consolidate and enhance mobilisation capabilities (with photo)
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During the exercise, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, received a briefing from colleagues on their communications with different departments.
The exercise simulated a scenario in which a super typhoon was approaching Hong Kong and its associated torrential rain might result in serious flooding in some low-lying areas. It was therefore necessary for the Government to promptly mobilise a significant number of staff across departments to form a Quick Response Unit to provide timely support. In accordance with the requirement of the "government-wide mobilisation" level, all bureaux and departments (B/Ds), as well as the Independent Commission Against Corruption, have to arrange around 10 000 designated personnel to be on standby through the use of the interdepartmental communication mechanism established for the "government-wide mobilisation" level.
Mrs Yeung said that the exercise process was generally smooth, fully demonstrating departments' progressive enhancements in alertness and responsiveness under the "government-wide mobilisation" level. The interdepartmental communication mechanism can also continue to support the operation of the mobilisation protocol in a highly efficient manner. The successful completion of the exercise is an affirmation of the mature operation of the mobilisation protocol, and once again showcases the flexibility, efficiency and solidarity of the civil service, demonstrating the current-term Government's determination in enhancing the emergency response capabilities of government staff.
The CSB will continue to conduct exercises at appropriate times in the future so that the relevant parties could further familiarise themselves with the procedures and arrangements of the mobilisation protocol, and remain vigilant to ensure decisive responses are made in the event of major incidents.
The Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address the enhancement of the mobilisation protocol, which is an important initiative of the current-term Government to further improve governance, improve systemic resilience and enhance the Government's emergency response capabilities, ensuring that the Government can mobilise government staff in a more organised, systematic and efficient manner in case of major incidents to achieve the objective of "early planning and early intervention". In September 2023, the Government activated the mobilisation protocol twice, with more than 600 government staff from 16 B/Ds mobilised to participate in operations assisting in the recovery work following the passage of Super Typhoon Saola and the torrential rain.
Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:25
Issued at HKT 15:25
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