XN000022-1989-03-09 — Page 11

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1989

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MORE MODERN VESSELS ADDED TO MARINE POLICE FLEET

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HARBOUR POLICING IN HONG KONG WILL BE FURTHER ENHANCED BY THE LATEST ADDITION OF MODERN VESSELS TO THE MARINE POLICE FLEET

THE LARGEST POLICE FLEET IN THE WORLD.

SEVERAL NEW POLICE VESSELS, INCLUDING SEVEN HARBOUR LAUNCHES, TWO "SHARK CAT" MULTI-HULLED VESSELS AND TWO TYPHOON 9.5-METRE RIGID INFLATABLE BOATS, WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) COMMISSIONED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR RAYMON ANNING, AT JOSS HOUSE BAY.

SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR ANNING SAID THE NEW VESSELS FORMED PART OF THE MARINE REPLACEMENT AND EXPANSION PLANS WHICH WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

"HONG KONG HARBOUR RATES AS ONE OF THE BUSIEST WATERWAYS IN THE WORLD AND THE UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT ON BOARD THE NEW HARBOUR LAUNCHES WILL GREATLY ASSIST MARINE POLICE IN MEETING THE EVER INCREASING DEMANDS, SAID MR ANNING.

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THE COMMISSIONER ALSO NOTED THAT THE ADDITION OF TWO "SHARK CATS" AND TWO 9.5-METRE RIGID INFLATABLE BOATS TO THE SMALL BOAT UNIT WOULD IMPROVE ITS OVERALL CAPABILITIES IN DIFFICULT OPERATIONAL CONDITION.

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WILL

SERVE AS

+ "THE SHARK CATS' THE FIRST EVER MULTI-HULLED VESSELS TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE SERVICE WITH THE MARINE POLICE COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT CRAFT.

THE

AND

"THE 9.5-METRE RIGID INFLATABLE BOATS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE CAPABILITY OF THE SMALL BOAT UNIT AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WATER BORNE CRIMES, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE SPECIAL DUTIES UNIT IN THEIR MARITIME COUNTER TERRORIST ROLE," THE POLICE CHIEF SAID.

MR ANNING THEN LIT JOSS STICKS AND TOOK PART IN TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES ABOARD THE NEW VESSELS, HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY REGIONAL COMMANDER, MARINE, MR JOHN MACDONALD, AND DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, HARBOUR, MARINE, MR LAIN WARD.

AFTER THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY, THE NEW VESSELS PERFORMED A SERIES OF SEA MANOEUVRES BEFORE SALUTING THE COMMISSIONER.

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