XN000022-1996-10-16 — Page 27

19.

(c)

Answer:

Mr President,

whether the Housing Authority will consider upgrading system B security facilities in public housing estates to system A security facilities; if so, when it will be implemented; if not, why not?

We plan to complete installation of security facilities in all public housing blocks by 1997, other than those to be redeveloped shortly or without lifts. To this end, we have identified a total of 940 rental blocks to be provided with security devices in phases. As at September 1996, we have improved 328 blocks in 38 estates: 89 with System A and 239 with System B. Works in the other targeted estates are in progress. To further enhance security in public housing estates, we are implementing a programme to improve lighting in these blocks, where necessary. We expect to complete the bulk of this programme in 1997.

Since so far, we have completed installation of security improvement facilities in one-third of the targeted estates and we have yet to fully assess the effectiveness of the two systems. The need to further upgrade System B to System A will be considered after the Housing Department has completed the security improvement programme and conducted an overall review of effectiveness.

We cannot correlate the number of crimes in different public housing estates with the effectiveness of individual security improvement systems as the crime rates available comprise crimes of all kinds and crimes which take place inside and outside rental blocks in housing estates.

End

Provision of Internet services in schools

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Questions:

The Hongkong Telecom IMS has announced that it will enter into an agreement with the Education Department to provide free NETVIGATOR accounts to public sector secondary schools in the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: