The Hong Kong Police will deploy up to 4,000 police in order to ensure security during the Olympic equestrian events in August, Assistant Commissioner of Police Suen Kwai-leung said Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an exhibition in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Suen said 3,500 officers will be given the authorization required for accessing Olympic equestrian venues or the Olympic Village to implement security measures.

Extra hands will be assigned for maintaining traffic and order, he said.

The number of police officers required will depend on the size of the audience at the Olympic equestrian events, Suen said, adding that it could be as many as 3,500 to 4,000 at the peak of the events and as few as over 1,000 at off-peak hours.

Security measures will also be in place for Olympics-related events at the Victoria Park on the Hong Kong Island and the Shatin Park in the New Territories, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2008)