XN000022-1988-02-22 — Page 6

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1988

DISTRICT POLICE STATION OPENS IN TAI PO

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THE OPENING OF THE NEW TAI PO DISTRICT POLICE STATION REFLECTS THE PROGRESS MADE BY THE POLICE IN PROVIDING BETTER SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN THE NEW TOWNS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MANAGEMENT, MR ERIC BLACKBURN, THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE $37 MILLION COMPLEX

THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE NEWLY-CREATED TAI PO POLICE DISTRICT.

OBSERVING THAT TAI PO HAD DEVELOPED FROM A TRADITIONAL MARKET TOWN INTO A NEW TOWN OF 160,000 PEOPLE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, MR BLACKBURN POINTED OUT THAT THE BUILDING OF NEW ROADS, PROVISION OF MODERN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND CREATION OF INDUSTRIAL AREAS HAD MADE THE DISTRICT A VERY POPULAR PLACE TO LIVE AND INVEST IN.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE POPULATION GROWTH HAD CAUSED THE LOW CRIME RATE IN TAI PO TO INCREASE BY 10 TO 15 PER CENT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, "BUT IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE ΤΟ KEEP THE CRIME PROBLEM VERY MUCH UNDER CONTROL.'

NOTING THAT THE POPULATION OF TAI PO WOULD REACH 300,000 BY THE MID-1990'S, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SAID THAT THE SAFETY OF NEW-COMERS. INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF HOLIDAY-MAKERS FROM THE URBAN AREA, WAS ONE

OF THE MANY RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THE LOCAL POLICE HAD TO SHOULDER.

"TO COPE WITH THIS INCREASING DEMAND, IT IS NECESSARY TO EXPAND POLICE MANPOWER IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE POLICE COVERAGE, HE ADDED.

THE NUMBER OF POLICE AND CIVILIAN STAFF EMPLOYED IN THE DISTRICT HAD THEREFORE INCREASED BY 30 PER CENT TO 370. AND THAT THE NEW 16-STOREY BUILDING WOULD PROVIDE MUCH IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS, OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

**THROUGH THE PROVISION OF MODERN EQUIPMENT AND ADEQUATE TRAINING, THE POLICE FORCE CAN GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS COMBATTING CRIME. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SECURE MAXIMUM CO-OPERATION FROM THE PUBLIC TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM SUCCESS, MR BLACKBURN SAID.

THAT

GIVING ASSURANCE

OFFICERS WORKING IN THE NEW POLICE STATION WOULD DO THEIR BEST TO FOSTER THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT, MR BLACKBURN SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT PEOPLE IN ΤΑΙ PO WOULD OFFER FULL CO-OPERATION TO THE POLICE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL.

AFTER THE SPEECH, A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY WAS OFFICIATED BY

COMMANDER MR BLACKBURN; THE REGIONAL

FOR THE NEW

MR TERRITORIES, RICHARD SMALLSHAW; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT

MR BOARD, STEPHEN WONG; TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JOHN BURRETT: THE CHAIRMAN OF TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE, MR DAVID HO; THE CHAIRMAN OF SAI KUNG NORTH RURAL COMMITTEE, MR NAM PAK-PING; THE CHAIRMAN OF TAI PO DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR RAYMOND HO: AND THE DISTRICT COMMANDER FOR TAI PO, MR BASIL LIM.

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