The Force Steering Committee officially started preparation for the policing operation for the East Asian Games (EAG) 2009 by holding its first meeting on February 16.

Mr Koo noted that the nature of the EAG is quite different from the events the Force had handled. The policing operation will be a new challenge as it involves many more venues. In addition to 20 competition venues and two cycling routes, there are also venues for the opening and closing ceremonies, Resident Hotels, Training Venues, Accreditation Centres and Media Centre, spreading over all Police Regions. The meeting acknowledged the challenge and importance of ensuring operational consistency among Districts and Regions under a three-tier command structure, as well as the wide spreading venues.

It is estimated that over 4,000 EAG participants would be arriving and departing through the airport, seaports, and land ports. Therefore, the East Asian Games (Hong Kong) Limited (EAGHKL) will set up counters at the official points of entry, namely the Hong Kong International Airport, the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal and the Shenzhen Bay Port, to facilitate the arrival and departure of VIPs, delegations, overseas referees and athletes. All these would no doubt have implications for the Force's policing plan.

With a view to facilitating preparation work, Operations Wing organised a briefing session on January 20 at PHQ Auditorium for the Force members who will be involved in the planning, and work partners in the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the EAGHKL. The briefing not only informed District and Divisional Commanders and LCSD Managers about the background of the Games and the three major areas of policing requirements, namely, Competition Events; Accreditation and Security; and Ceremonies and Cultural Nights, but also offered an initial meet-up opportunity for the local police, LCSD management and key EAGHKL staff, facilitating their subsequent on-site reconnaissance and security plan.

Following the briefing for District representatives and LCSD staff, various PHQ units, Regions and Districts immediately started preparations within their own areas. Work to date has primarily consisted of preparations for road events, site visits to EAG related venues, crowd and traffic management planning, examination of contingency plans for competition venues and communication requirements.

To share the best practices and lessons learned by the Macao Police during the 4th EAG held in Macao in 2005, a delegation led by Police Tactical Unit Commandant Wong Chi-hung paid a one-day visit to their Macao counterparts on December 20 last year to share experience in the fields of crowd management, venue security and contingency planning, all of which the delegation considered very useful.

Policing of the EAG has been included as one of the Commissioner's Operational Priorities for 2009 and all members of the Force are now looking forward to supporting efforts to promote Hong Kong as a suitable venue for a wide range of prestigious international events.

Members visiting facilities for the 4th EAG in Macao