The Correctional Services Department (CSD) carried out an emergency exercise today (November 6) to test the emergency response of its various units in different scenarios including mass indiscipline of persons in custody and a hostage-taking situation at Pik Uk Prison.
Code-named Concord XX, the four-hour exercise aimed to test the department's emergency command and communication capabilities, the implementation of contingency plans at different levels, the departmental response and information dissemination, as well as test the CSD's co-ordination with other government departments.
More than 150 staff members from the CSD, including the Correctional Emergency Response Team and the Regional Response Team, the Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force took part in the exercise. The CSD's Assistant Commissioner (Operations), Mr Ng Chiu-kok, took command of the whole operation at the department's Central Control Centre in Stanley.
He said the exercise enhanced the response capabilities of the department, as well as the effectiveness of emergency support. The exercise also improved inter-departmental communication and co-operation, and enhanced the ability and efficiency in handling emergency situations.
The CSD holds regular emergency exercises of various types at the correctional institution, regional and departmental levels to enable staff members to get familiar with handling different incidents. The objectives are to provide a safe and secure custodial environment to facilitate rehabilitation work and help maintain Hong Kong as one of the safest cities in the world.
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