XN000022-1996-10-16 — Page 32

24 -

Reply:

Mr President,

(a)

In total, nine Senior Police Communications Officers (SPCO) and 63 Police Communications Officers (PCO) are deployed to answer "999" calls round the clock at three Regional Command and Control Centres (RCCCs), namely, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. There are currently 52 "999" lines over the territory distributed as follows:

Hong Kong Island RCCC Kowloon RCCC

New Territories RCCC

16

17

19

(b)

(c)

(d)

On average "999" calls are answered in 2.4 seconds in Hong Kong Island, 4.0 seconds in Kowloon and 3.7 seconds in New Territories.

The figures of complaints for the last three years are:

1996 (to date) 1995

1994

2

1

3

It is understood that people seldom file formal complaints regarding waiting time for a "999" call to get through. They usually do it at District Fight Crime Committee meetings or through the media for which the Police do not keep statistics.

The Police have taken the following measures to reduce the waiting time for 999 calls to get through -

(i)

(ii)

Jaunching a public education campaign to promote the proper use of "999";

planning the introduction of a Calling Number Display System to help locate callers automatically and thus save time in taking their particulars. In addition, it will deter people from making nuisance calls;