POLICE MUSEUM
Communication Equipment in Different Eras
Featured Exhibits

Description

To provide a prompt and effective service to 999 emergency callers, the Force’s communications equipment must be kept up to date so that the efficiency of officers’ operations is enhanced.

Through the Command and Control Communications System, the Force’s Regional Command and Control Centre can deploy resources quickly from the Regional Headquarters and various police districts to respond to cases and situations.

The first generation of the Command and Control Communications System (CCl) was launched in 1976. This generation of radios also had a feature. They notified the Control Centre automatically if someone tried to snatch a police officer’s radio. However, this radio had a low signal transmission capability and many signal stations were required.

In 1990, the second generation of the Command and Control Communications System (CC2) was launched. The radio, commonly known as the “Robocon”, cost over HK$400 million at the time. The radio communication system featured a wide range of functions and comprehensive coverage across all of the police districts in Hong Kong. It was the first radio communication system of such a large scale used by the Hong Kong Police Force.

In 2004, CC2 was used as the basis for the third generation of the system (CC3). The new radio communication system adopted a digitised format to improve voice quality and included encryption features to prevent eavesdropping and unauthorised access to the system. Its operational confidentiality and security were greatly enhanced. CC3 also won international recognition and the Best Innovation Award at an international communications system design competition.

The fourth generation of the system (CC4) was introduced in October 2020. The CC4 radio is lighter and the battery is more durable than that of its predecessor. New features include the speech-to-text Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System (PONICS), which allows officers to conduct checks directly through an artificial intelligence system. A cross-District talkgroup function has also been added to enhance communication and operational efficiency among police districts.

More items

First Head of the Police Force William Caine’s Collection and Government Gazette of the Establishment of the Police Force in 1844

During the First Opium War, the British forces landed at Possession Point, Sheung Wan on 26 January 1841

The Force's Fire-Fighting Hand Cart in the 19th Century

There was no fire service in the early days of Hong Kong. Fire-fighting was

Photographs of the Old Water Police Station with the Old Rudder

Today Tsim Sha Tsui is home to 1881 Heritage, a fashionable, luxury shopping mall with a heritage

The First Plague Medal

In 1894, Hong Kong’s health and security were put to the test when bubonic plague broke

Special Constable Armband in World War II

The Special Constable system was introduced in 1886, when the Peace Preservation Ordinance was passed to allow

「The Tiger of Sheung Shui」

In the early days of Hong Kong, tigers were often found in the New Territories. Tiger hunting was one of the police duties.

Group Photograph of Hong Kong Police Detectives in 1916 and Detective Badges

Since its formal establishment the Hong Kong Police Force has always had

Reserve Police Armband

World War I broke out in 1914. Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August of the same year.

The MacIntosh Collection

Duncan William MacIntosh became Commissioner of Police in 1946, shouldering the important responsibility

The MacIntosh Observation Posts (Forts) Model

After World War II, the political instability in the Mainland caused an influx of large numbers of Mainland residents into Hong Kong

Former Female Searcher’s Badge, Passing-Out Photographs of the First Intake of Female Police Officers and Female Police Officers’ Equipment

The special wedding allowance for female police officers, also known as the “dowry token”, sounds really unbelievable today.

Dog Handler’s Arm Badge

As you can see, the police officer wearing this armband is a dog handler – also known as a

Old-Fashioned Telephone Switchboard for Use in 999 Emergency Communication Systems

Before World War II, there was no radio communication system between the Police Headquarters

Crime Scene Evidence Collection Kit in the Last Century

As early as the Zhou Dynasty in China in the 11th century B.C., fingerprints were already regarded as

Old Style Riot Helmets and Shields

In the 1950s and 1960s, Hong Kong experienced large-scale unrest and riots on several occasions such as the

Old Style Traffic Police Helmet and Motorcycle with a Sidecar

In the early days of Hong Kong, like in many parts of China, the roads were mainly used

Bomb Disposal Vehicle and Bomb Suit in the 1970s

Bombs detonated during the many riots in Hong Kong before the 1970s caused deaths and injuries

Royal Hong Kong Police Cadet School's “Best All Round Cadet” Plaque

In the 1960s and 1970s, due to family difficulties, many young people in Hong Kong were

Vietnamese Boat People’s Weapons and Coracle

Beginning in the mid-1970s, an influx of Vietnamese boat people disturbed

Photographs and Collection of Mr. Li Kwan-ha

After the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984

Bravery under a Hail of Bullets

In the 1980s and 1990s, the number of cases involving firearms in Hong Kong

Police Badges of Past Generations

The Hong Kong Police Force underwent a number of transformations from a

Stockholm Challenge Award

Protective Gear for the Police Tactical Unit in 2005

The Force's 175th Anniversary Special Stamps and Open Day Tickets

In the first half of 2019, the Hong Kong Police Force organised a series of activities to celebrate its 175th anniversary

Operation TIDERIDER Medal

The Operation TIDERIDER Medal is the first medal in the history of the Hong Kong Police Force to