Open Day Turns into a Counter-Terrorism Scenario?
PTU Holds First Large-scale Terror Attack Simulation on a Higher Education Campus at HKCT
(The “Community Engagement • PTU Headquarters Joint Emergency Response Exercise” was held at the HKCT Jockey Club Undergraduate Campus of HKCT Institute of Higher Education and Hong Kong College of Technology (HKCT), with the participation of more than 200 police officers, emergency medical personnel, and HKCT staff and students.)
(9 July 2026, Hong Kong) An open day on campus is disrupted by a malicious attack. Casualties are found lying across different parts of the campus, while a suspected explosive device is discovered in a car park. Fortunately, this was not a real incident, but a large-scale emergency exercise organised yesterday by the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) Headquarters of the Hong Kong Police Force under the theme “Community Engagement • PTU Headquarters Joint Emergency Response Exercise.”
Held at the HKCT Jockey Club Undergraduate Campus of HKCT Institute of Higher Education and Hong Kong College of Technology (HKCT), the exercise simulated a complex crisis involving multiple concurrent incidents. More than 200 police officers, emergency medical personnel, HKCT staff and students participated in the event.
This marked the first large-scale interdepartmental exercise conducted by the PTU in a real higher education campus environment in Hong Kong. The exercise not only tested the coordination and emergency response capabilities of different departments under high-pressure conditions, but also enabled participating students and staff to gain a deeper understanding of public safety and crisis management through first-hand experience.
Realistic Simulation of a Complex Crisis with Multi-agency Coordination
(The exercise simulated a complex crisis involving multiple emergency incidents occurring simultaneously, testing the coordination, communication, and response capabilities of different departments under high-pressure conditions. The scenario unfolded in a tense yet well-organised manner, reflecting the effectiveness of interdepartmental collaboration and emergency preparedness.)
Amid evolving global and local security challenges in recent years, safeguarding national security and enhancing preparedness for emergencies have become increasingly important to social stability and development.
The exercise simulated a malicious attack and the discovery of a suspected explosive device during a campus open day. Upon receiving reports of the incidents, police officers and Fire Services Department ambulance personnel swiftly arrived on campus to conduct searches, rescue operations, evacuations and risk assessments, demonstrating an integrated interdepartmental response mechanism.
To support the exercise, HKCT opened its teaching facilities, training venues and public spaces as simulation sites, enabling participating departments to conduct realistic operational training in an environment closely resembling actual emergencies.
Students and Staff Act as Casualties, Experiencing Crisis Response First-hand
(HKCT students and staff took on the roles of injured victims and campus open day participants, working alongside frontline police officers and emergency medical personnel in evacuation, rescue and on-site management operations throughout the exercise.)
Most of the participating students were enrolled in HKCT’s Diploma of Applied Education (DAE) programmes, including Police Cadet Training Programme and Disciplined Services Studies.
These programmes place strong emphasis on the integration of theory and practice, providing students with opportunities to gain exposure to the real working environments of disciplined services and public service sectors through experiential learning activities.
During the exercise, students took on roles such as injured victims and visitors attending the open day. Throughout the immersive hour-long simulation, they worked closely with frontline police officers and emergency personnel during evacuation, rescue and site management operations.
By participating in the realistic scenario, students enhanced their understanding of emergency handling procedures while strengthening their crisis awareness, teamwork and communication skills.
Exercise Enhances Operational Readiness and Campus Emergency Preparedness
(Chief Superintendent Mok Hing-wing (right), Commandant of the Police Tactical Unit, presented a commemorative trophy bearing the inscription “Police and Community United in Emergency Preparedness, Nurturing Talent to Safeguard Our City” to Professor Chan Cheuk-hei (left), President of HKCT, in recognition of the successful collaboration in the joint emergency response exercise.)
Chief Superintendent Mok Hing-wing, Commandant of the Police Tactical Unit, said that the exercise enabled frontline officers to translate routine training into practical operational experience. He thanked HKCT for providing a realistic campus environment and the support of its students and staff. He also praised the student volunteers who acted as casualties, noting that their convincing performances contributed significantly to the success of the interdepartmental training exercise.
Professor Chan Cheuk-hei, President of HKCT, emphasised that the joint exercise reflected the strong partnership between the police and the community, while greatly enhancing the confidence of both the institution and the public. He highlighted the importance of interdepartmental collaboration and noted that HKCT would review the experience gained from the exercise to further strengthen its campus safety and emergency response mechanisms.
First-hand Experience Deepens Students’ Understanding of Disciplined Services
A student enrolled in the Police Cadet Training programme shared that the exercise provided a valuable opportunity to observe closely how the police handle emergency incidents and crowd management operations.
Witnessing the PTU rapidly secure the scene and neutralise the simulated attacker gave him a deeper appreciation of the professionalism and efficiency required of disciplined services personnel. He remarked that the experience further strengthened his determination to pursue a career in the disciplined services.
Post-exercise Sharing Session Provides Insights into Frontline Operations
(Senior Inspector Tsang Yiu-ying of the PTU Headquarters Operational Exercise Team delivered a detailed briefing to HKCT students and staff, providing insights into the history, operational scope and responsibilities of the Police Tactical Unit (PTU).)
To transform the practical experience of the exercise into a valuable learning opportunity, Senior Inspector Tsang Yiu-ying of the PTU Action Learning and Drill Division delivered a post-exercise sharing session for HKCT students and staff.
The session provided a detailed introduction to the history, responsibilities and operational scope of the PTU, helping students interested in joining the disciplined services gain a better understanding of the professional judgement, adaptability and sense of responsibility required of frontline personnel when dealing with emergencies.
HKCT has long placed strong emphasis on applied learning and practical training. Through collaboration with various government departments and professional organisations, the institution provides students with valuable opportunities to experience authentic working environments.This interdepartmental joint exercise further demonstrated HKCT’s commitment to experiential learning and professional practice.
HKCT’s Diploma of Applied Education (DAE) currently offers programmes including Police Cadet Training, Fire and Ambulance Services Preparation Training, Immigration and Customs Officer Preparation Training, and Disciplined Services Studies. Applications are now open for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the disciplined services or public service sector. For details, please visit the programme website: https://www.hkctdae.edu.hk
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2026年7月9日—開放日變反恐現場？PTU首次高等院校模擬恐襲危機（香港新聞網）
