President Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong yesterday afternoon, and strict security measures are in place everywhere he goes. In addition to the road closure measures in Wan Chai North area announced in advance, wherever the motorcade goes, nearby roads and overpasses will be immediately strengthened, including driving away the nearby areas. Staying citizens; in the interview area set up, although the identity of the reporter has been verified, the officers of the search team and police dogs will be dispatched to check the media equipment and personal belongings on the spot. The police also dispatched the latest mainland-made armored vehicle “Saber-Toothed Tiger” to patrol. In response to road closures in many districts, the MTR Convention and Exhibition Station was closed for trains without stopping, many bus stops were also suspended, and buses had to be diverted. Yesterday, after get off work, traffic in many places in Hong Kong and Kowloon was even more congested. In addition, in order to cooperate with epidemic prevention, the government requires all officials and guests attending the nucleic acid test. The test results of Tan Yaozong, member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, were “inconclusive” yesterday morning. I wish President Xi’s visit to Hong Kong a smooth trip and the success of the celebration of the handover.
Xi Jinping’s convoy was escorted by police-escorted motorcycle teams and radio jammers. When the convoy passed through multiple districts, the police immediately expanded the area of the blockade, and nearby citizens could not wait at the bus stop. When Mrs. Xi Jinping’s wife Peng Liyuan visited the West Kowloon Xiqu Center, there were multiple water horses, iron horses and roads closed outside, and police officers were sent to guard each entrance and exit.
In terms of defense in various districts, some traffic lanes at West Kowloon Station, the Convention and Exhibition Park, and the Science Park were closed, surrounded by water and horses, and a large number of police officers patrolled and alerted, including a railway response force in new uniforms. While Xi Jinping’s motorcade was traveling along the West Tunnel, there were police officers guarding the entrance and exit of the West Tunnel. Police officers patrolled the car park on Rumsey Street in Central, and at one point drove away reporters and other people present.
The armored vehicle “Saber-Toothed Tiger” patrolled the exhibition area, and the Fire Hazardous Substances Team was also present; passing vehicles were stopped for questioning. The footbridges from Wan Chai MTR Station to the Immigration Tower, Wan Chai Government Offices and Revenue Tower were still open as usual yesterday, but there were police officers on guard, and those entering the core security area or convention and exhibition were subject to security checks and identity verification. Enter.
In response to security operations, there was serious traffic congestion in Hong Kong and Kowloon yesterday. Some people traveled from the New Territories to Hong Kong Island at around 3 pm yesterday, 45 minutes longer than usual. By the end of the working hours, the traffic flow on the map showed that the roads in many districts were “red with bruises”. Yesterday’s “430” Government Epidemic Press Conference started with a 20-minute delay. Au Jiarong, chief doctor of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Center for Health Protection, did not respond to whether it was related to the traffic jam caused by the leader’s visit to Hong Kong, and only apologized for the delay.
The police have set up interview areas in various places where Xi Jinping visited, and reporters have to register and enter. A search team brought their police dogs to the interview areas to check the media’s luggage, and searched backpacks and equipment one by one. In the Science Park, a female reporter wearing a raincoat with a Union Jack was taken away from the interview area by the police for questioning. The raincoat was later confiscated, and she was allowed to return to the interview area.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/local/strict defense-saber-toothed tiger dispatched-multi-area traffic jam/326613