Hong Kong’s John Lee orders ‘many drills’ at Kai Tak stadium ahead of Coldplay shows, opening
‘These drills should not only focus on the number of people, but also different time slots and weather conditions,’ chief executive says
Hong Kong’s leader has ordered the government to hold “many drills” under different weather conditions at a new mega stadium ahead of its opening and Coldplay’s concerts next year.
The operator of the Kai Tak Sports Park also said on Tuesday a joint command centre would be set up during large events to allow staff to communicate quickly and coordinate with stakeholders, including government departments and transport services.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at least 50 companies or organisations had expressed interest in arranging events at the site, which features a 50,000-seat main stadium.
He added he had asked an interdepartmental task force to ensure the opening went ahead smoothly in the first quarter of next year, with operational test runs set for November.
“I have requested them to conduct many drills. These drills should not only focus on the number of people, but also different time slots and weather conditions,” he said before a weekly meeting of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council.
“The purpose of these drills is to ensure the operator knows what improvements need to be made, especially on dispersing the crowd. If the event has 50,000 people or more, how can we ensure a smooth crowd dispersal?”
