A six-member delegation from the Force Command Cadre and the Operations Wing, led by Chief Superintendents Kwan Chui-ching and Lui Kam-ho, attended a two-day Toronto Emergency Management Symposium and visited the Toronto Police Service (TPS) in Canada from November 12 to 16.

The symposium invited international emergency management professionals and counter-terrorism experts from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States to share their insights and practices. Over 500 participants from police forces, emergency services agencies, academia and private security organisations attended the event. It offered a unique opportunity for the Force delegates to interact with other emergency management professionals.

Meanwhile, the Force delegation met Chief of Police of TPS Mark Saunders and Deputy Chief Peter Yuen and they exchanged views on various policing issues. The delegates also visited the Public Safety Unit (PSU) of TPS. The PSU is responsible for handling public events and emergency incidents. It consists of several special teams including the Public Safety Response Team, Mounted Unit as well as a team of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives specialists. The delegates learned about the PSU's command structure and decision-making methodology, the operational mechanism of the Major Incident Command Centre as well as the procedures, tactics and equipment for handling major events.

The visit enabled the delegates to learn from overseas experience and better understand the policing regime in Toronto. It also offered an opportunity for the delegates to forge closer ties with other law enforcement officers, security advisors, scientists and medical consultants, with a view to enhancing the Force's emergency response capabilities.