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Crime Prevention Bureau (CPB) and Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU) co-hosted a briefing session on hotel security for about 50 security managers from member hotels of the Hong Kong Hotels Association (HKHA) on June 16. The seminar aimed at raising the industry’s awareness of explosives and suspicious objects as well as keeping them abreast of laws and regulations that might apply in situations involving law enforcement actions of police officers.
When delivering opening remarks at the briefing session, Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Siu Chak-yee said that since June last year, violent radicals had disrupted public order in Hong Kong and in some cases, signs of domestic terrorism emerged. Hotels have been found to be a possible place for criminals to carry out illegal acts such as making and storing illicit substances. It is therefore necessary for the Police to enhance intelligence exchange and strengthen cooperation with the hotel industry.
Superintendent Leung Wai-ki of ICTU then conducted a briefing session entitled “Stay Vigilant to Bombs”. Mr Leung introduced the security threats against hotel industry, guidelines for identifying suspicious objects and the appropriate response to make, in particular when police officers and rescue personnel are yet to arrive at the scene. Meanwhile, Superintendent Lau Kar-ming of CPB explained the police power stipulated in the Police Force Ordinance (Cap. 232) and the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245), their applications in hotel context and the protocol of handling incidents which might result in breach of the peace.
In the question and answer session, participants eagerly expressed their views and discussed the future direction of cooperation with the Police. Before the end of the briefing session, Mr Siu presented a souvenir to Convenor of Security Committee of the HKHA Mr Chris Lai to show appreciation for the HKHA’s long-term partnership with the Police. Another briefing session was held in late June for raising the awareness of explosives and suspicious objects among other members of the hotel industry.
