THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1983
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SIR PHILIP SEES MARINE POLICE OPERATIONS
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON VISITED THE MARINE POLICE TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THEIR DAY- TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR. ROY HENRY THE CHIEF SECRETARY FIRST CALLED AT MARINE POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN TSIM SHA TSUI.
HE WAS MET BY THE REGIONAL COMMANDER OF MARINE, MR. JOHN MACDONALD, WHO BRIEFED HIM ON THE REORGANISATION OF THE REGION AND THE 10-YEAR EXPANSION PROGRAMME FOR THE MARINE POLICE.
SIR PHILIP ALSO LISTENED WITH INTEREST TO DETAILS OF THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR JOINT MARITIME COMMUNICATION PROJECT, A PACKAGE WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE MARINE POLICE, THE ROYAL NAVY AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WITH MARITIME SECURITY, WITH ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED RADIO AND RADAR NETWORKS IN THE WORLD.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY WAS THEN TAKEN ON A RIDE FROM KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER TO TAI LAM CHUNG ON BOARD A LOGISTICS LAUNCH. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE 26-METRE LAUNCH WAS ONE OF THE THREE NEW DAMEN LOGISTICS LAUNCHES WHICH HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE FEBRUARY LAST YEAR.
THE NEW BOATS, CAPABLE OF SPEEDS OF UP TO 24 KNOTS, WERE BUILT AT A COST OF $8.5 MILLION EACH. THEY PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT BACK UP SERVICE FOR THE FLEET OF PATROL LAUNCHES AND CAN ALSO FILL IN PATROL DUTIES OR ACT AS FORWARD OPERATION AL BASES.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE SENIOR STAFF OFFICER, OPERATIONS, MR. GEOFF COX, SIR PHILIP WAS MET IN TAI LAM CHUNG BY THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SMALL BOAT UNIT. MR. ANDY BURT. A DEMONSTRATION OF SBU TACTICS WAS LAID ON FOR THE CHIEF SECRETARY.
SIR PHILIP WAS TOLD THAT THE UNIT WAS SET UP IN NOVEMBER 1979 MAINLY TO COUNTER THE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ACROSS THE SEA BOUNDARY. HE WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON THE FLEET OF SMALL INFLATABE CRAFT AND THE TACTICS USED BY THE UNIT.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY WHO WAS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY HIS
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, MR. ALISTAIR ASPREY, CONCLUDED HIS VISIT SHORTLY AFTER 4.30 P.M. AND FLEW BACK TO HONG KONG ISLAND BY HELICOPTER.
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