While planning security search operations for the Inauguration Ceremony of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in 1997, the Force Search Unit discovered that some high areas and confined spaces needed to be covered by the operations. As a result, the Force Search Unit set up the High-rise Search team and Confined Space Search Team (CS Team) for conducting thorough security searches at the ceremony venue.  

 

When coming into being, the CS team comprised only one Senior Inspector, two Sergeants and eight Police Constables, who were playing their roles as a secondary duty. With more officers joining the secondary duty during its 16 years of development, the team now consists of one Chief Inspector, one Senior Inspector, three Station Sergeants, eight Sergeants and 10 Police Constables. 

 

Working in confined spaces, such as manholes, large pipes and ditches, is a dangerous job with risks posed by poor ventilation, toxic gases and high temperature. In Hong Kong, fatal industrial incidents happen occasionally due to hypoxia, poisoning and explosion in confined spaces. Therefore, the CS Team has set very strict requirements for every member, apart from providing professional search and breathing equipment. 

 

The team members have to possess not only good physique but also ability to work as a team and make independent judgement. They also have to pass an annual medical check-up. 

 

To beef up their professionalism, each team member has to attend training courses provided by Fire Services Department, Civil Aid Service and Construction Industry Council. In the past two years, a total of eight team members attended vocational courses in the Singapore National Civil Defence Department and the Singapore Occupational Safety Bureau.

 

The CS Team has taken part in large-scale security search operations, including those for 6th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in 2005, 10th Anniversary Ceremony for the Establishment of the HKSAR in 2007, Olympic and Paralympics Equestrian Event in 2008 and 5th East Asian Games in 2009. 

 

Supporting frontline units, the CS Team also provides services of searching and collecting evidence for cases involving confined space. In recent years, the team had assisted in searching for the skeleton of a dead mission person inside a cave, and collecting evidence inside a well. More noteworthy were the search operations for two ship-sink tragedies in 2002 and 2006, resulting in the drowning of a total of 16 crew members inside cabins.  When the wrecks were salvaged, the CS Team helped crime investigation teams recover the bodies and collect exhibits inside a confined cabin.

 

In the years to come, the CS Team will continue to enhance its capability of conducting searches and collecting evidence in confined space to provide more professional support for the Force's search operations.