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New Territories North (NTN) conducted a major incident exercise codenamed FIRESWEEPER 2023 with the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, Immigration Department, Fire Services Department, Hospital Authority, Auxiliary Medical Service, St. John Ambulance and MTR Corporation Limited at MTR Lo Wu Station on June 17. The exercise, which simulated a fire and explosion from a traveller’s luggage on the platform causing multiple casualties, aimed to test and strengthen the communication and interoperability of different departments in handling a major incident during peak flow period at the boundary control point.
The departments effectively controlled the scene and minimised the impact of the incident on other citizens. Meanwhile, the Patient Tagging System for Multiple Casualties Incidents was activated to monitor the flow of the injured in real time while the Incident Casualty Enquiry Centre and Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System were set up to help recognise the victims’ identification. The officers also handled public enquiries about situations of the injured through the hotline.
Participants of the exercise comprised more than 410 officers from various units, including NTN, Railway District, Counter Terrorism Response Unit, Complaints Against Police Office and graduates of the Police Oriented Tactical Emergency Medicine Course. At the same time, members of Police Mentorship Programme, Junior Police Call and Senior Police Call were invited to participate as injured or affected persons for the public to experience in person the response capabilities of the Force and other departments in handling major Incidents.
