ENG-2007 — Page 362

306 Public Order

Information about police activities is disseminated to local and overseas media organisations round the clock. PPRB also produced a number of publications, including a biweekly newspaper called Offbeat, a JPC monthly newsletter and a yearbook called Hong Kong Police Review 2006. The review won a Citation for Achievement in Design in the 2007 Best Annual Reports Awards organised by the Hong Kong Management Association. PPRB also assisted the Fight Crime Committee. in planning and implementing the Fight Crime Publicity Campaign 2007-08.

In 2007, 80 citizens who had assisted the Police in their fight against crime were bestowed awards under the Good Citizen Award Scheme organised by the Police Force and sponsored by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

Police telephone hotlines and crime information forms provide convenient channels for reporting crime. A total of 21 086 hotline phone calls, excluding those made to the 999 emergency hotline, and 1 572 crime information forms sent to the Police were recorded by year-end, resulting in 499 arrests.

Planning and Development

Construction work on the police station for the new Central District Headquarters and Central Division (CDIV) commenced in April 2007 and is scheduled for completion in late 2009. Upon completion, CDIV will amalgamate with Water Front Division to achieve better use of resources with higher cost-effectiveness. The project will also enable Wan Chai District Headquarters and Wan Chai Division to move to the Arsenal House Complex.

The Police continued to participate actively in the development and implementation of boundary crossing facilities built to cope with the rapid growth in cross-boundary visitors and logistical movements. The boundary crossing facilities at the Shenzhen Bay Port went into operation in July. Construction of this control point was based on a novel co-location concept. Another project now in hand is the police facilities at the customs-immigration-quarantine point at the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Information and Communication Technology

Implementation of the Versatile Maritime Policing Response strategy will be completed in 2008 with the delivery of the new Command and Control System as well as a fleet of smaller and more versatile marine craft. The new system will integrate with the existing radar system and will provide enhanced equipment to enable police officers in the control room to monitor the 191 kilometres sea boundary to maintain law and order at sea. New Marine Police vessels are being equipped with state-of-the-art electronic navigational and communication equipment, which includes radios, radars, electronic chart displays, differential global positioning systems, depth sounders and satellite compasses. The Police Force will continue to exploit new information and communication technology to enhance its service.