The Inter-departmental Counter-terrorism Unit (ICTU) co-ordinated its first large-scale inter-departmental counter-terrorism (CT) exercise, codenamed "POWERSKY", at Lei Yue Mun Park on March 25. The exercise simulated an operation against a terrorist cell which was plotting an attack in Hong Kong with homemade explosives.

During a stand-up media briefing before the exercise, Under Secretary for Security Mr Sonny Au said overseas experience has shown that effective co-operation among government departments is the key to fighting terrorism. In this connection, the exercise was held to enhance the co-ordination between the ICTU and its member departments on CT intelligence and response, and to raise public awareness of CT.

Senior Superintendent of the ICTU Leung Wing-sheung said that "POWERSKY" was a three-phase intelligence-led exercise which kicked off in February. In the first two phases, ICTU's member departments carried out internal exercises and passed the CT intelligence gathered from the exercises to the ICTU. Through intelligence collation and analysis, the ICTU confirmed that a terrorist cell was planning a bomb attack in Hong Kong and its hideout was located. In the third phase, various operational units took part in a field exercise to combat the terrorists under ICTU's co-ordination.

The field exercise mobilised about 270 officers from ICTU's member departments, namely the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Government Flying Service (GFS).

Under the scenario of the exercise, the C&ED examined a freight vehicle with a mobile X-ray vehicle scanning system and an explosive detector dog, and detected precursor chemicals for making explosives. Thus, the Special Duties Unit raided the terrorists' hideout with the support of the GFS while the Counter Terrorism Response Unit (CTRU) subdued the armed terrorists using tactical intervention. At the same time, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau diffused chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear leaks. In addition, the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) and ImmD's Counter Terrorism Operations Section conducted joint investigation at the scene. FSD's Hazardous Material Team, assisted by the Emergency Unit and the Police Tactical Unit of Hong Kong Island, carried out decontamination of the affected persons.

The ICTU was established in April 2018 under the co-ordination of the Security Bureau. It is dedicated to monitoring the global terrorism trends and CT measures, enhancing co-ordination and analysis of CT intelligence, reviewing and improving CT strategies in Hong Kong, developing specialised CT training, optimising emergency response plans, and providing advice related to CT to the Secretary for Security.