XN000022-1985-03-24 — Page 15

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SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1985

AT PRESENT, THE STRENGTH OF THE MTR FORCE STANDS AT 200 LP TO ONE-SIXTH OF WHOM ARE IN PLAINCLOTHES RIDING THE RAILS.

A FURTHER 140 ARE ABOUT TO BE TAKEN ON FOR THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG ISLAND LINE ON MAY 31.

THE NEW SECTION OF LINE WILL BRING TO THE SYSTEM 12 EAGERLY- AWAITED STATIONS AND A WHOLE RANGE OF NEW STRUCTURAL FEATURES WHICH WILL SOON PUT TO TEST ALL THE ACCUMULATED EXPERTISE OF THE MTR FORCE.

FOR GEOTECHNICAL REASONS, THE ISLAND LINE HAS REQUIRED DEEPER TUNNELLING AND STATION CONFIGURATIONS WHICH ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE FAMILIAR PATTERN OF THOSE ON THE EXISTING LINES.

CAUSEWAY BAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL HAVE EIGHT LEVELS. WAN CHAI WILL HAVE SIX,

FORTUNATELY, MODERN POLICE INGENUITY AND TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN MANY JUMPS AHEAD OF THE LAW AND ORDER PROBLEMS THIS COULD POSE. CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION IS ALREADY USED EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, TO THE EXTENT THAT POLICE ON DUTY IN THE COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE CAN CUE THE CAMERAS TO SHOW THEM ANY PART, OR ANY LEVEL, OF ANY STATION.

IN ADDITION, POLICE ON BEAT DUTY AT STATIONS (WHERE THERE IS ALWAYS ONE PC) OR ON THE TRAINS, EACH HAVE A WALKIE-TALKIE WITH WHICH THEY KEEP IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEIR BASE. THANKS TO EARLY INITIATIVE, THE RADIOS ARE EFFECTIVE IN ALL PARTS OF THE SYSTEM -- EVEN ON TRAINS

EVEN ON TRAINS DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF A MASSIVE, LEAKY COAXIAL CABLE DURING TUNNELLING WORK.

AS THE PATROLMEN CALL IN, THE CCC COMPUTER IDENTIFIES AND LOGS THE IR EXACT LOCATION AUTOMATICALLY AND THEIR OBSERVATIONS AND INTENDED MOVEMENTS ARE ENTERED ON VISUAL DISPLAY TERMINALS.

ANYONE THINKING OF COMMITTING A CRIME IN THE UNDERGROUND HAS MUCH TO BE WORRIED ABOUT. CONDITIONS ARE NOT AT ALL CONDUCIVE TO NEFARIOUS WORK. THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE BEING WATCHED ON CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV. THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEAREST PC IS. AND THE MTR IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO TRY TO ESCAPE FROM WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT, " SAID MR CLEMENTS.

NEVERTHELESS, THE UNDERGROUND IS A VERY GOOD PLACE FROM WHICH TO BE EVACUATED, != NEED BE. AND IT IS HERE THAT SPECIALIST TRAINING COMES IN.

/POLICE ON