Chief Executive Donald Tsang said yesterday that security arrangement at the equestrian venues will be tightened when necessary.

Tsang, accompanied by Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing and police chief Tang King-shing, visited the equestrian venues yesterday and told reporters that the existing security arrangement is adequate.

Tsang's comment came after a terrorist group claimed in a video released Saturday that it will attack hosting cities of the Olympic Games including Hong Kong next month.

"(Regarding warnings of terrorist attacks) Every major event has it. We had such worries during the World Trade Organization meeting in 2006. And we are prepared for that for the Olympics," he said.

"We will tighten security when necessary. But the competition atmosphere will be affected if we unnecessarily make such arrangement."

Mass Transit Railway Corporation deputy operations director Li Yun-tai said at another press conference yesterday that the railway operator will hire additional security staff during the events.

"We have been liaising with the police and related government departments for a detailed contingency plan to deal with emergency situations," he said. "We will hire more security staff and allocate more manpower along the rail lines."

Details of the security and transport arrangement will be announced later this week.

Tsang also dismissed concerns that the competition will be affected by the hot weather.

Temperatures in Sha Tin reached as high as 37 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Tsang said the riders will be able to deal with the hot weather in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, dozens of people queued up outside the China Travel Service in Mong Kok last night trying to get their hands on the last batch of tickets to the equestrian events which will go on sale today.

(HK Edition 07/29/2008 page1)