Secretary for Security Chris Tang on Monday said the government is planning to hold at least one joint drill with authorities in Shenzhen to test out the readiness of the new Huanggang port facility.

Tang said two previous drills, held last Thursday and Saturday to test traffic and passenger flows inside and around the facility, went very smoothly.

He said at least one further drill needs to be held alongside Shenzhen authorities to test out automated clearance gates at the checkpoint.

"One test session is the minimum," Tang said. "Of course, we also have a major drill scheduled for the 22nd, which is next Saturday.

"But we'll need to see the progress of the installation and commissioning of the gate machines before we can determine whether we'll be able to test those gates on that day," he added.

He said the government has taken note of all the feedback received from the first two drills.

"So far the test is satisfactory, but of course we have observed a few points that we can further improve, for example the notice about the direction, and also the lining up, how people will wait for the buses at the public interchange, and also their comments about they would like to have more benches in the building.

"We have taken note of all those comments and are going to improve immediately."

Tang said two more large-scale drills to be held on August 22 and 29 will aim at stress-testing all facilities at the new port area, with the tests to involve 10,000 and 20,000 people respectively.



Edited by Cecil Wong