New Territories North (NTN) Region staged a multi-departmental exercise, codenamed "FIRESWEEPER VI", in Border District (BORDIST) on November 14 with an aim to boosting the command, co-ordination and response capability of officers as well as their interoperability with other relevant government departments in handling a major incident.

The exercise began with four of 11 illegal immigrants (IIs) hijacking their escorting police officers and immigration officers on a police vehicle during the repatriation of these IIs to the Mainland. One of the four IIs drove the vehicle to Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works where an Open Day was being held. The vehicle lost control and rammed into a crowd, causing a chemical explosion and a casualty of over 100 people. Then the four IIs fled to a farmhouse by car and held several persons hostage.

Over 400 officers from the Operations Wing, Emergency Unit, Police Tactical Unit, Quick Reaction Force, Traffic and Regional Crime Unit of NTN; the New Territories Regional Command and Control Centre; BORDIST; Police Public Relations Branch; Organized Crime and Triad Bureau and Police Negotiation Cadre (PNC) took part in the exercise. Other participants included the Fire Services Department, Immigration Department, Hospital Authority, Auxiliary Medical Service, Civil Aid Service, Water Supplies Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Apart from the handling of mass casualties, officers had to preserve the crime scenes for investigation, locate the escaping vehicle, handle the confrontational situation and make arrests. A review was conducted with all stakeholders after the exercise and constructive comments were received to enhance the capability of NTN officers in handling major incidents.