The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, visited Beijing today (April 16). The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with the delegation this morning to discuss and exchange on the work of Hong Kong to proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and to better integrate into and serve the overall national development.
 
     The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, and Deputy Director Ms Zhang Dongmei also joined the meeting.

     The delegation of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials concluded their visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

     The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) today (April 16), in collaboration with the INTERPOL and police forces from other jurisdictions, cybersecurity agency and operators of critical infrastructures, conducted the Counter Cyber and Physical Terrorism Joint Exercise 2026, codenamed “STEALTHNET”, to enhance counter-terrorism preparedness across various sectors, and strengthen preparedness for potential terrorist activities and future large-scale international events. 

     The exercise was coordinated by the Crime Wing and Operations Wing of the HKPF, with the participation of the INTERPOL, the Macao Judiciary Police, the Singapore Police Force, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and the Korean National Police Agency. More than 380 participants, including representatives from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, a local bank and the Macau branch of a bank, took part in the exercise. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, attended and oversaw the exercise.

     The exercise first simulated a terrorist financing scenario, showcasing the close collaboration between the enforcement agencies, financial regulatory and operating institutions. Subsequently, a cross-border terrorist cell launched cyber and physical attacks against the financial, aviation and healthcare systems across Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore and Korea in an attempt to paralyse essential public services. The scenarios involved terrorists placing explosive devices and deploying drones at major event venues intended to create chaos. These simulations were designed to test and strengthen the capabilities of relevant organisations and units in intelligence sharing, coordinated rapid response, and joint operations under high pressure situations in addressing emerging hybrid terrorist threats. The exercise also strengthened collaboration between law enforcement agencies and operators of critical infrastructures, including financial institutions, to bolster overall defense and response capabilities. The exercise also invited a cybersecurity company to be a member of the Cybersecurity Task Force to conduct intelligence analysis, as well as to provide professional advice and assessments on neutralising cyber threats and malware attacks.

     As global terrorist activities and cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated, cross-border law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing are essential for safeguarding critical infrastructures. The exercise not only enhanced the coordination capabilities of the participating law enforcement agencies in responding to hybrid terrorist threats, but also strengthened regional counter-terrorism cooperation, safeguarding public safety and social stability.