SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1985
15
POLICE ON TRANSFER FROM SURFACE FORMATIONS MUST FIRST ACCEPT THE IDEA OF DEPTH AS A NEW DIMENSION IN THEIR NORMAL ACTIVITIES.
IN HONG KONG'S HIGH-RISE AREAS, POLICE ARE ALREADY WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH VERTICAL BEATS. BUT WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY IN THE MTR TERRITORY, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE RESCUED OR EVACUATED UP.
**THEY ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT CROWDS ON AN UNDERGROUND ARE IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MENTAL STATE TO THOSE ABOVE GROUND AND APE LIKELY TO BE MORE NERVOUS IF SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAPPENS,'' SAID MR CLEMENTS.
**IN SUCH CASES, POLICE ARE UNDER ORDERS TO IMMEDIATELY TELL PASSENGERS WHAT IS WRONG, '' HE SAID. AS A GENERAL RULE, IF YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE TOLD WHY THEY ARE BEING MOVED AROUND, THEY ARE MUCH EASIER TO MOVE AROUND. THEY DON'T PANIC.''
ON AN AVERAGE TRAIN, THIS WILL INVOLVE AROUND 3,000 PEOPLE.
THE POLICE ARE TRAINED TO EVACUATE SUCH NUMBERS FROM ONE STATION LEVEL TO THE NEXT IN ONE AND A HALF MINUTES. SIMILARLY, THEY CAN CLEAR A WHOLE STATION IN FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.
THE HONG KONG POLICE ARE COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THEIR FIRM CONTROL OVER LAW AND ORDER, WHETHER IT IS ABOVE OR BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE.
THAT'S WHY ITS QUITE SAFE TO SAY THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO HONG KONG'S UNDERGROUND, POLICING IS GOING RIGHT DOWN THE TUBES'
IN A MOST DETERMINED AND POSITIVE WAY.