FSU undertakes biggest operation

The security search for HKMC is probably the biggest in scale ever undertaken by the Force Search Unit (FSU), under the command of Operations Wing's Key Points & Search Division.

At the height of the conference, as many as 1,200 officers were engaged in various security checking and screening operations, according to Senior Inspector Tang Chi-ming, who was the previous SIP Key Points & Search Division. (SIP Tang is now working in Support Wing). He put to good use, before and during HKMC, the training he has received in the Royal School of Military Engineering in the UK.

Working closely with SIP Tang was SIP Wong Yiu-fai, who was at the time a member of the FSU cadre working in Traffic Kowloon East and mobilised for the search of Phase II of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), venue of HKMC.

SIP Tang pointed out that planning for security search and screening started as early as 18 months before HKMC in the forms of meetings, assessment of manpower and equipment requirements, site visits, training requirements and liaison with other government departments and related stakeholders in both public and private sectors.

"Owing to the magnitude of the search and screening operations anticipated, apart from the 400 members of the FSU, an addition of 720 officers was drawn from different formations. Their main task was to carry out security screening at different locations," he said.

As part of HKMC preparation work, the Key Points & Search Division provided refresher training to all members of the FSU, including the Cadre's High-rise Search Team and Confined Space Search Team. Key Points and Search Division also designed a two-day training course for the 720 officers seconded from different formations in order to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skill to perform their job. One of the objectives of the training was to highlight to the officers the significance of the roles they had to play, in relation to the overall security arrangement.

During HKMC, apart from his primary role as SIP KPS, SIP Tang was also responsible for supervising the security screening duties at HKCEC and 15 hotels where delegates stayed.

"Security screening operation in the hotels began on December 10 when delegates started arriving. According to security requirement, the level of screening at some of the hotels was of airport type standard. It means that all persons and items brought into the hotels had to be thoroughly checked. An interesting aspect of this job was that officers often acted as ambassadors in handling enquires from the delegates, many of whom visited Hong Kong for the first time. Questions like 'Can you show me how to go to the Peak?' and 'Can you recommend the best Chinese restaurant around here?' were typical questions the officers received," he noted.

One of the challenges of security screening was to have all the necessary equipment, such as X-ray machines and Archway Metal Detectors, put in place in the hotels and other locations by noon on December 10. "We had only 36 hours to complete the job, bearing in mind that all of the equipment were very heavy, which required the use of crane lorries for removal. We also had to make sure the hotels' normal business remained unaffected by our operations, and thus leaving far less disposable hours for the assembling of our equipment. We got our job done, thanks to the hotels' full co-operation," said SIP Tang.

Other significant roles of the FSU were operating a vehicle search centre at the Tamar Site to search all vehicles entering the gazetted Close Area, and processing all applications for permits to enter the Closed Area.

SIP Wong pointed out that an important preparation work was to decide the more than 200 cordon points in HKCEC. Each cordon point was manned by either a police officer or private security guard round the clock. The employment of private security guards was a new measure aiming to release officers for other more important duties on the frontline.

Closer to the opening of HKMC, SIP Wong continued, the High-rise Search Team had to start searching the roof of HKCEC, while the Confined Space Search Team was responsible for the searching of "Street Furniture" within the Closed Area, such as street lights, traffic lights, fire hydrants, man-holes and pumping stations, etc.

The challenge for SIP Wong came shortly before the night in which the venue of HKCEC had to be declared "sterlilised" on the early morning of December 13. He led 200 members of the FSU working overnight to complete the search of the conference venue and the surrounding areas.

"We had only 12 hours to complete the job. It was very tough because of the large area to be searched, and because of the time constraint. However, my men and women were well aware of the significance of their mission, and did their best to have it accomplished," said SIP Wong.

Officers provide 464 escort services for VIP delegates

The 99-member Force Escort Group (FEG) provided a total of 464 escort services for 37 VIP delegates during HKMC. Riding motorcycles in front of delegates' cars or motorcades, the escort members ensured that the delegates reached their destinations safely and on time.

One or two months prior to HKMC, former members of FEG were drafted in to boost the group's strength to 99 members, in order to provide services 24 hours a day. After having attended some refresher training and mock-up escort exercises on the roads, FEG members swung into action on December 10 as the VIP delegates started arriving at the airport.

After HKMC opened on December 13, most FEG members stood by at the Waterfront Police Station, Happy Valley Police Station and HKCEC, waiting for instructions, while other members manned a command post set up at the PHQ CCC and a sub-command post at the Police College's Aberdeen Site, issuing instructions and providing logistic support. Throughout HKMC, FEG members worked closely with their colleagues of the VIP Protection Unit on every escort journey.

A FEG member, Station Sergeant Ng Chung-king, who worked at the escort group's command post at PHQ CCC, told OffBeat that FEG members' main task was to escort delegates to their destinations by using the "fastest and safest route". For delegates' safety, they tried to avoid demonstrators' processions or protests, as well as traffic congestion. But when some roads in Wan Chai were closed to traffic after demonstrators had escalated their protests on December 17, FEG members had to make detours in taking delegates to HKCEC and other destinations.

Later that day, FEG members also escorted PTU Companies from Kowloon and North Point to Wan Chai to back up frontline officers, as well as coaches taking arrested demonstrators to Kwun Tong.

SSGT Ng pointed out that the unanticipated road closures on December 17 had brought considerable work stress to FEG members. He pointed out: "When you learn that the road ahead has been closed, you've to find out which ones are still open and cleared of demonstrators. Then you've to choose the fastest and safest route."

Another FEG member, Police Constable Cheong Man-yuen, pointed out that as a result of the road closure on December 17, officers could not take delegates from their hotels in Queensway direct to HKCEC. Instead they took the delegates to the government pier next to the Hong Kong and Macao Ferry Terminal in Central, where they boarded a vessel for HKCEC.

PC Cheong also pointed out that a small episode he encountered on the night of December 17 showed how a place could become deserted in the wake of commotions or disturbances. "I was returning to Happy Valley Police Station on my motor bike in Queen's Road East on the night of December 17 when two men dressed in tuxedos flagged me down in the middle of the road. They had just finished a wedding party in a nearby restaurant and asked how they and their guests could get public transport. As there were very few taxis around because of road closure, I advised them to take the bus or MTR. This episode reminded me that commotions could easily disrupt life and bring it to a stand still," PC Cheung recalled.

Key players in the security search and screening for HKMC, (from right) SIP Tang, SIP Wong and SGT Chan Chiu-kit. SGT Chan has also made a contribution to search operations

Three members of the Force Escort Group, (from left) SSGT Ng Chung-king, SGT Wong King-fat and PC Cheong Man-yuen