Rising geopolitical tensions and global security threats continue to put authorities around the world to the test. While the Hong Kong government has rightly sought to enhance readiness and responses to emergencies by conducting counterterrorism exercises over the years,
Thursday’s drill marks another milestone in the city’s strategy to defend internal and national security.
What sets the operation at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal apart is its significance. For the first time, it has been overseen by the city’s leader and broadcast live on television. The scale is also the largest ever, involving more than 500 officers and 200 members of the public. The four simulated scenarios included a gunfight between police and terrorists, a field triage of the injured, inspection and evacuation of cruise passengers, as well as rescuing hostages on a hijacked boat.
Code-named Bravelight, the operation was the first to focus on critical infrastructure under a revamped three-tier hierarchy combating terrorism introduced in last year’s policy address. A
steering group led by the chief executive is responsible for mapping out directions and strategies to boost the city’s defences against evolving threats. The secretary for security focuses on coordinating various government bodies at the second level, followed by seven working groups comprising disciplined services and members from various government bodies. These groups cover intelligence, public education, information security, critical infrastructure, import and export of goods, immigration controls and legislation.
Police said the operation had met the objectives, and a review would be conducted to identify room for further improvement.
Counterterrorism drills were regularly held at different locations even before the enactment of the national security law in 2020. For instance, a two-week exercise was held in November 2015, featuring a simulated terrorist plot by members of a fictitious foreign extremist group and self-radicalised local terrorists launching an attack in Hong Kong. In December 2024, a
large-scale drill was conducted at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Hong Kong’s terrorist threat level remained “moderate”. While there is no specific intelligence showing the city will be a target of attack, police officers warned that recent global terrorism trends have become more complex, shifting towards a growing number of self-radicalised individuals and lone-wolf actors, many of whom are young people and students.
