XN000022-1983-06-12 — Page 12

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 1983

11

DESPITE THE HEAVY BUILDING PROGRAMME, THERE IS STILL A CONTINUING NEED FOR THE FORCE TO LEASE PREMISES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO COVER THE SHORT-FALL OF OFFICE SPACE.

''PENDING THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW POLICE HEADQUARTERS, WE STILL HAVE TO TURN TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS FOR OFFICE SPACE TO HOUSE A NUMBER OF NON-OPERATIONAL UNITS.

'WE ARE CURRENTLY RENTING ABOUT 20 000 SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE SPACE AND ARE SEEKING APPROVAL TO LEASE ANOTHER 3 000 SQUARE METRES TO MEET INCREASING DEMAND.

TURNING TO THE BUILDING OF MARRIED QUARTERS FOR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS, MR GOULDSMITH SAID WORK HAS STARTED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF 144 UNITS IN OLD BAILEY STREET IN THE MID-LEVELS.

**PLANNING IS WELL ADVANCED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER 540 UNITS IN YUEN LONG AND FANLING, 360 AT CORNWALL STREET, KOWLOON, AND 575 UNITS IN CHAI WAN,

''AS FOR LONGER TERM PLANNING FOR THE PROVISION OF MARRIED QUARTERS, SUITABLE SITES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED OR RESERVED IN THE TSING YI TOWN CENTRE, MA ON SHAN AND JUNK BAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FURTHER 1 050 UNITS.''

IN ADDITION TO OVERSEEING THE POLICE BUILDING PROGRAMME, THE BRANCH IS CONSTANTLY REVIEWING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TERRITORY WITH A VIEW TO ASSESSING THE POLICING NEEDS BOTH IN URBAN AREAS AND IN NEW TOWNS.

**THE BRANCH STUDIES CRIME TRENDS, EVALUATES THEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SPECIAL POLICING REQUIREMENTS IN AN AREA, AND THEN DRAWS UP PLANS FOR POLICE FACILITIES.

''ACCORDING TO THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, A DISTRICT POLICE STATION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR A POPULATION OF BETWEEN 200 000 AND 500 000 WHILE A DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION WILL SERVE 100 000 TO 200 000 PEOPLE.

**FOR REMOTE AREAS WITH ONLY A SMALL POPULATION WE SET UP POLICE POSTS OR OTHER NON-STANDARD POLICE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE A LINK BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE FORCE.**

THE BRANCH IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT, THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE AND THE FINANCE BRANCH FOR THE PROVISION OF POLICE COVERAGE TO THE DEVELOP ING NEW TOWNS.

THE AIM IS TO HAVE THE STATIONS READY BEFORE THE POPULATION MOVES IN SO THAT THE POLICE ARE IN POSITION TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY RIGHT FROM THE START,'' MR GOULDSMITH SAID.

/12