In August 2025, the Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit conducted a large-scale interdepartmental counter-terrorism (CT) exercise, codenamed “Bravelight”. The exercise aimed at testing the effectiveness of Hong Kong's counter-terrorism capabilities in dealing with terrorist activities, as well as enhancing the awareness, co-ordination and response capabilities of government departments.
The exercise simulated a scenario in which terrorists attempted to launch an attack upon arriving in Hong Kong via a cruise ship, staging a knife attack and shooting in the cruise terminal lobby. Their accomplices subsequently took a passenger ship hostage, leading to a gunfight with the Police onboard. Relevant departments of the HKSAR Government set off a series of response actions in tracking down the members of the groups and unravelling the plot.
The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Three-tier Prevention Framework, comprising the Chief Executive Counter-terrorism Steering Group at the first tier (top tier), which steers and formulates CT policies and directions; the Secretary for Security Counter-terrorism Co-ordinating Group at the second tier, which co-ordinates B/Ds' co-operation on CT matters; and seven interdepartmental working groups at the third tier, which follow up on specific studies and carry out CT work.
The HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen the CT preparedness in various areas, including enhancing intelligence exchange, expanding community intelligence networks, preventing radicalisation, enhancing public education and organising diverse CT exercises to foster collaboration between departments and private/public stakeholders, as well as bolster the overall defence capabilities of Hong Kong.