Tens of thousands of officers will be mobilized to test crowd control measures at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park, the city’s No 2 official said, while admitting some fans may have to walk further than expected to reach the MTR station during busy events. .

The facility will undergo 20 trial runs at three venues and undergo at least two more major tests for the 50,000-capacity main stadium, General Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Saturday.

The sports park is planned to be officially opened in March next year.

“We will mobilize tens of thousands of officers to test facilities and monitor how the exit process works. “For example, we will do real-time tests to monitor how people leave after a concert that ends at 10 p.m.,” Chan told a TV programme.

“Of course the police will be keeping a close eye on everything. Additionally, MTR Corporation will be cooperating with us as they will need to increase services, possibly running a train every 2.5 minutes.

“During the trial runs, they will also arrange extra empty trains specifically to transport spectators.”