Kowloon East (KE) Region ran the second phase of Exercise BOLTRUNNER to test the capability of frontline officers in policing public events as well as the co-ordination of various units in handling major incidents.

Under the exercise, two groups of protestors staged a public meeting at Kwun Tong Promenade and a procession from Choi Hung to Ngau Tau Kok on November 2. The protests were policed by Districts' Tier III officers. KE Operations Room and District Operations Room of Kwun Tong District, Sau Mau Ping District, Wong Tai Sin District (WTSDIST) and Railway District were activated to oversee the simulated operation.

The protests were subsequently developed into a riot at Pak Kong Water Treatment Works in Sai Kung. Under the command of the Field Commander, WTSDIST Deputy Commander Cheung Hoi-yan, some 500 officers of Crime KE, Emergency Unit KE, Police Tactical Unit D Company, Traffic KE and the Police Public Relations Branch arrived at the scene to handle the situation. Representatives from the Home Affairs Department, Fire Services Department and Mass Transit Railway Corporation also took part. Following the drill, KE Regional Commander Duncan McCosh gave an on-site debriefing, highlighting the salient points of the joint exercise.