TNAG-2825-FCO40-4076-Future-of-Hong-Kong-terrorism-and-counter-terrorism-1993 — Page 25

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

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CONFIDENTIAL

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INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, PEKING

Counter-Terrorist Exercise -

1.

Ex Vulgate 24 to 26 November 1993

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The Governor's Security Committee agreed earlier this year that a counter-terrorist exercise code-named Exercise VULGATE, would be held here between 2000 hrs Local on 24 November to 0800 hrs Local on 26 November, as part of a programme for major emergency exercises for 1992-93. The last major counter-terrorist exercise code-named Exercise TETCOTT was held in November 1985.

2 =

The aim of Exercise Vulgate is to practise the Hong Kong Government's response to terrorist incidents in Hong Kong. One or more terrorist incidents will be played out on the ground with controlled players as terrorists and hostages and will involve the deployment of several hundred police officers, the Government Flying Service, the Civil Aviation Department and other Government departments. Exercise activities on the ground will be carefully regulated. The Governor's Security Committee will also be involved in the Exercise. There will be no military deployment.

3. The exercise scenario will have an international dimension, but not (not) a China dimension. The Political Adviser's Office will be involved in the exercise and will play both themselves and London. The roles of various Consulates in Hong Kong, with the exception of the US Consulate-General will be played by exercise control staff. The US Consulate-General here will play themselves and will be providing assistance to the Exercise Controller (an Assistant Commissioner of Police) during the exercise.

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The exercise will be played with as low a profile as possible. A press release concerning the exercise will be issued shortly before it starts, but press enquiries will be told only that a police exercise to practise contingency plans for emergency incidents is taking place. Details of the exercise will not be disclosed for security reasons.

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