The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) conducted the first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao tripartite counter cyber and physical terrorism exercise, codenamed “RIDGERANGE”, with the Cyber Criminal Investigation Department of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department (GDPSD) and the Macao Judiciary Police (MJP), at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and the MTR Hong Kong Station between July 27 and 31. The exercise simulated a terrorist group planning to launch a terrorist attack in Hong Kong.

In the exercise, staff members of the property management company of HZMB Hong Kong Section and MTR Corporation Limited (MTRC) opened a malicious attachment from a phishing email sent by a cyber terrorist, resulting in data leakage. Officers of the E-Security Audit and Incident Response Team of CSTCB responded to the incident and conducted investigations on the computer systems. Investigations revealed that the terrorist launched the cyber attacks from Macao via an illegal virtual private network (VPN) service in Mainland China to hide his identity. To tackle cross-border cybercrime, CSTCB activated the Tripartite Cyber Security Emergency Response Mechanism. The Cyber Criminal Investigation Department of GDPSD and MJP immediately smashed the illegal VPN service provider in Mainland China and arrested the cyber terrorist in Macao.

Simultaneously, the terrorist group used the information stolen from the cyber attacks to launch physical attacks. The terrorists planted a bomb at the Passenger Clearance Building (PCB) of HZMB Hong Kong Port and hijacked a train at the MTR Hong Kong Station to threaten the Police to release their members who were arrested previously. Under the coordination of the Headquarters Command and Control Centre, officers from the Counter Terrorism Response Unit and the Emergency Unit of New Territories South arrived at the PCB to conduct a sweeping and they swiftly located the bomb and subdued a terrorist. On the other hand, CSTCB, Railway District, Central District, the Railway Response Team, the Emergency Unit of Hong Kong Island, the Police Tactical Unit of New Territories North and the Police Negotiation Cadre arrived at the Hong Kong Station to plan for the rescue operation. With the assistance of the MTRC and the cooperation of various police units, the passengers in the station were swiftly evacuated. The Police subdued the terrorists before they launched the attack.

The exercise not only enhanced the preparedness and responsiveness of the Force and stakeholders of critical infrastructures in handling cyber and physical attacks, but also strengthened the communication and collaboration of law enforcement between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

Please visit the following link to watch the video of the exercise：（https://feedback.facebook.com/HongKongPoliceForce/videos/1738974216301435/）.

Commissioner Siu Chak-yee (back row, first right) and Acting Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Yuen Yuk-kin (back row, second right) command the exercise.

Officers of the E-Security Audit and Incident Response Team of CSTCB conduct an investigation.

Officers of the Counter Terrorism Response Unit participate in the exercise.

Officers of the Emergency Unit of New Territories South conduct a sweeping at the Passenger Clearance Building of HZMB Hong Kong Port.

Officers of the Police Negotiation Cadre negotiate with the terrorists.

Officers of the Railway Response Team search for the terrorists on a train.

Officers of the Railway Response Team subdue the terrorist on the platform.