Press Release

CSD emergency exercise Concord XVIII tests emergency response

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) carried out an emergency exercise today (November 22) to test the emergency response of its various units in different scenarios, including mass indiscipline of persons in custody and a hostage-taking situation, inside Tai Lam Correctional Institution.

     Code-named Concord XVIII, 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.

     The CSD invited the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Fire Services Department (FSD) to participate in the exercise to test the CSD's co-ordination with these departments.

     The exercise focused on a number of scenarios including mass indiscipline of persons in custody, hostage-taking, fire breaking out and more. About 200 staff members of the CSD, the HKPF and the FSD took part in the exercise.

     The CSD's Assistant Commissioner (Operations), Mr Wong Kwok-hing, took command of the whole operation from the department's Central Control Centre in Stanley.

     He said the exercise enhanced the response capabilities of the department and colleagues, 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 in future.

     The CSD holds regular emergency exercises of various types in correctional institutions and at regional and departmental levels to enable staff members to get familiar with handling different incidents. The objective is to provide a safe and secure custodial environment to facilitate rehabilitation work and help maintain Hong Kong's status as one of the safest cities in the world.

Ends/Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:44

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) carried out an emergency exercise today (November 22) to test the emergency response of its various units in different scenarios, including mass indiscipline of persons in custody and a hostage-taking situation, inside Tai Lam Correctional Institution.