XN000022-1979-01-01 — Page 5

MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1979

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INFRA-RED SECURITY 'FENCE' FOR NEW RHKAAF HEADQUARTERS AND HELIPORT

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MODERN SECURITY EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING AN INFRA-RED OPTICAL +FENCE+, WILL BE INSTALLED AT THE NEW $11.5 MILLION ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS AT KAI TAK.

+THE INFRA-RED SECURITY EQUIPMENT WILL WARN OF INTRUSION BY OUTSIDERS FROM THE AIRPORT AND KOWLOON BAY,+ SAID MR. MARC ROBINSON, THE RHKAAF'S CONSULTANT TECHNICAL OFFICER WHO IS SUPERVISING THE ENTIRE PROJECT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

+AT THE SAME TIME A CLOSE-CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEM WILL BE INSTALLED FOR SECURITY PURPOSES AS WELL AS FOR FIRE AND AIRCRAFT SAFETY, + MR. ROBINSON ADDED.

THE NEW BASE, SCHEDULED FOR OPENING ON MARCH 3, WILL ALSO MEAN HONG KONG'S OWN AIR FORCE WILL BECOME FULLY INDEPENDENT IN AIR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. THE GOVERNOR WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.

+ONCE WE MOVE INTO THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OUR ENTIRE OPERATION WILL BE HOUSED UNDER ONE ROOF,+ SAID SQUADRON LEADER J.G. SHAWCROSS, STAFF OFFICER OF THE RHKAAF. HE EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT THE ADMINISTRATION BLOCKS, ENGINEERING AND OTHER FACILITIES ARE IN SEPARATE LOCATIONS.

THE NEW COMPLEX HAS A TOTAL AREA OF 3.2 HECTARES ON THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION NEAR THE EAST EXIT OF THE AIRPORT TUNNEL PROJECT. THIS WILL BE CLOSER TO THE RUNWAY THAN ITS PRESENT BASE.

+THE NEW HEADQUARTERS IS LESS REMOTE AS FAR AS OUR STAFF AND FLYING OPERATIONS ARE CONCERNED,+ SQN. LDR. SHAWCROSS SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT IT NOW TAKES 30 MINUTES FOR THEIR FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT TO TAXI FROM THE EXISTING BASE TO THE AIRPORT RUNWAY AND ACROSS A PUBLIC ROAD BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE OFF FOR AN OPERATION.

+BUT THE JOURNEY FROM THE NEW DISPERSAL AREA TO THE RUNWAY WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES, HE ADDED.

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*AUXAIRFORCE WILL ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN RADIO COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE WHICH WILL ENABLE THE BASE TO COMMUNICATE MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH ITS AIRCRAFT WHEN THEY ARE AIRBORNE BOTH LOCALLY OR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES OUT OVER THE SEA AS THEY OFTEN DO WHEN CARRYING OUT SEARCH AND RESCUE AND OTHER OPERATIONS.

THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE THREE-STOREY COMPLEX WILL BE USED AS AIRCRAFT SERVICING BAYS, AND THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS FOR ADMINISTRATION, ENGINEERING, OPERATIONS AND ACCOMMODATION.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A 2,000 SQUARE-METRE HELICOPTER HANGAR LINKED TO THE GROUND FLOOR.

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