PUBLIC ORDER
280
these blocks started in July and completion is expected by mid-1996. Funds were also sought for the refurbishment of 152 quarters at Queen's Hill Camp near Fanling. Planning was well advanced for a new Marine Regional Headquarters complex at Sai Wan Ho, to replace the existing one in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The construction of a 32-storey tower block at Police Headquarters in Arsenal Street commenced in mid-1992. On completion in late 1995, this building will accommodate most of the Police Headquarters crime and security formations.
Communications
The programme to replace outdated and inefficient telephone exchanges in police facilities was concluded during the year, and the network of facsimile machines expanded to reduce the time of routine transmission of documents throughout the Force. Facsimile machines were also installed in the Regional Command and Control Centres in Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and the New Territories to enable members of the public who have a hearing impairment to access the '999' emergency system.
A computer-based Force Directory Enquiries System was commissioned in June to enable quick tracing of key officers in the Force, with a view to answering urgent enquiries from both within and outside the Force.
A Casualty Enquiry System, with sufficient lines to handle public enquiries in the event of a major disaster, was installed. To back up internal security and anti-crime activities in the territory, new portable radios, mobile radios and associated repeater equipment, designed specially for these needs, were provided to Regional Crime Units and the Police Tactical Unit.
Sophisticated navigation and communications equipment was installed in each of the six new divisional command launches put into service, to make police operations at sea possible even under the most severe weather. The Marine Radio Workshop also enhanced its capability to take up first line support of the advanced technologies employed in these systems.
Planning for the communications needs of police facilities at the new airport and all associated rail links continued during the year, alongside the design of a new and better radio system for traffic police.
Information Technology
In January, the government accepted the financial implications, estimated at some $526 million, for the implementation of the Force's Information Technology Strategy. Throughout the year, the Information Technology Branch was heavily committed to planning for the five major groups of computer systems which are integral to the strategy.
These systems are the Communal Information System, Force Criminal Investigation System, Force Operations Support System, Force Administrative Support System and Free-standing Systems.
The Communal Information System will facilitate day-to-day operations and the collation of management information at district, regional and headquarters levels. A pilot project, which has been running in Wanchai district for two years, has been successful, establishing the conceptual basis for future force-wide application. The Force Criminal Investigation System will provide enhanced computer facilities for the investigation and detection of crime. The Force Operations Support System will maintain a comprehensive
Page 330Page 331