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police work, are also highlighted. The programmes enjoy a consistently high audience rating.
Visits to the Force are also encouraged. During the year, 820 local and 513 overseas visitors were received by the Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB). Many thousands more visit police stations, the Police Museum and other formations under localised arrangements. On the media front, information on crime, police action and activities are disseminated to all news organisations in the territory round-the-clock through PPRB. Professional staff, seconded from the Information Services Department, deal with press enquiries and assist the media at major scenes of crimes and incidents. 三
During the year, PPRB staff answered 143 472 press enquiries, organised 164 press conferences and briefings, attended 124 incidents and issued 3 476 press releases. PPRB also produces a fortnightly newspaper, OffBeat, and monitors media coverage of police and criminal activities.
An increasingly proactive approach to promoting information on all aspects of police work has resulted in a better understanding of the Force and a more positive reflection of its achievements. This was evident from the considerable press interest in publicising, throughout the year, the many celebrations organised by the Force to commemorate its 150th anniversary.
Planning and Development
Developments along the northern coast of Lantau Island remained the focus of attention for Force planning. The interim Tung Chung Police Station, completed in early 1994, will eventually be replaced by a district police station, which will incorporate a traffic section tasked with the policing of the Lantau Fixed Crossing. Detailed planning of the Force's facilities within the new airport terminal building and a district police station on Chek Lap Kok was also well advanced.
On the West Kowloon Reclamation, an additional division will be created to police the central part of the reclamation, while the remaining parts will be covered through an adjustment of the boundaries of existing districts. Consideration is also being given to the construction of an additional divisional station, a dedicated regional operational base and a regional vehicle detention pound on the reclamation.
The Force was involved in the Government's Southeast Kowloon Development Study, a project which aims to determine the development potential in the area presently occupied by Hong Kong International Airport, after flight operations are transferred to Chek Lap Kok. Subject to the implementation of the recommended developments, the Force will propose the establishment of a two-division district - within the existing area at Kai Tak and the reclaimed area from Kowloon Bay.
In Kowloon East Region, an indoor firing range is being built to house eight mini-ranges and an indoor, conventional, 25-metre range. Upon its completion in mid-1995, the Force will have five indoor firing range complexes equipped with the most sophisticated weapons training facilities.
Other works completed during the year included the reprovisioning of the Marine Police Training School in the Sai Wan Ho West Pier and refurbishment projects at Kwun Tong and Wanchai Police Stations. The final phase of improvements to the outdoor range at the Police Training School was also completed. Work commenced on the reprovisioning of the Marine