Meeting the challenges of policing Hong Kong's most densely travelled public transport system with over 2.4 million of passengers per day, MTR Police District is the proving ground for a computerised radio dispatch system that is being closely watched by the Force and the public. Aimed at upgrading and streamlining the efficiency and effectiveness of the MTR police, the new Beat Radio System not only meets current needs but will grow with the MTR police in the future . . . | |
 Unlike the antiquated system above: the new Computer Display Map enables supervisory personnel to easily identify police officers' locations and status and is designed to incorporate other future MTR line expansion with unnoticeable interruption to the operation |
"THE Communications Branch has successfully
implemented the first phase of the new Beat Radio System (BRS) Project for the MTR Police
District which will be set as a model for the upcoming phases and help usher the Force into the
21st Century," said Jolly Wong, the project manager.
At a cost of $44 million and to be completed in four stages, this is the first phase of the project targeted to replace the previous generation radio system in use since 1985. Phase one of the project includes the relocation of the existing Police Control Room (PCR) in Kowloon Bay to the new MTR Tsing Yi Station as well as the communications system for the two new MTR lines - Tung Chung Line and Airport Express Line, collectively known as the Lantau and Airport Railway (LAR). |
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In addition, replacement of the communications system at Island, Tsuen Wan Line and Kwun Tong Lines is targeted to be completed in three phases by early 2000. Phase one of the project is ahead of schedule, within budget, up to specifications and in co-ordination with various other work centres related to Chek Lap Kok Airport. The new system retains all existing key operating features and inter-accessibility between the MTR District and the above-ground Forces, that is, beat patrolling officers at street level can communicate with those working underground at dedicated channels and vice versa - both will appreciate the improved audio quality in a more compact radio (the advanced radios now used by the Traffic Radio System, Police Tactical Unit and the Emergency Unit. What is not so apparent to users is the new state-of-the-art Tsing Yi Police Control Room which will upgrade and streamline police operations with a high quality of service to the community. | |
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"The project team has conducted extensive research on ergonomic and workspace analysis resulting in the establishment of a console set-up and furniture design that maximises comfort, reduces stress and enhances productivity," added Jolly Wong. Based on industrial-standard Windows NT platform and Intel processor-based servers and workstations, the modern console Graphical User Interface (GUI) is also easy to learn and use. In the long run, this system will offer significant savings in financial, administrative and training resources. The new Computer Display Map also enables supervisory personnel to easily identify police officers' locations and status and is designed to incorporate other future MTR line expansion with unnoticeable interruption to the operation. |  |
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 Celebrating Tsing Yi Station |
THE opening of the new Police Control Room at Tsing Yi MTR Station will help to ensure that the best policing service possible is provided to both public commuters and travellers to Hong Kong alike, said Regional Commander Kowloon East, John Yuen Ying-lam.
"With its sophisticated settings and equipment and our professionalism, the new Police Control Room at Tsing Yi MTR Station will enable us to maintain the finest tradition of the Hong Kong Police Force," said Mr Yuen, officiating at its opening. |
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"A lot of hard work and effort have been put into the project to make it a success, and in this connection I would like to thank the Force's Information Technology Branch and Communications Branch, as well as the Mass Transit Railway Corporation and Motorola Asia Pacific Limited," he added. The new Police Control Room became operational last Sunday (June 21) to coincide with the opening of the MTR Tung Chung Line. "The existing Police Control Room at Kowloon Bay will continue to provide police service to the existing MTR lines (and run parallel to Tsing Yi) for a period of 22 months until its migration to Tsing Yi Station in March 2000," said DDC MTR District, SP Yuen Chi-keung. Moreover, an additional 70 uniform officers and two civilian staff will be added to the present establishment to police the new Tung Chung and Airport Express MTR lines. With the opening of the Lantau and Airport Railway, two new police posts, serving as reporting centres, will also be set up at the Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations where air travellers will be required to check their luggage at the stations' in-town-check-in-counters before taking the train on to the new airport. Subsequently, police will also step up their patrols at these two stations to ensure the security of travellers' property - which will be awaiting them for pick up at Chek Lap Kok airport, which opens July 6. Said SP Yuen: "Police will continue to conduct station and train patrols covering the travel hours of the MTR lines from 5:45am to 1:15am. In addition to uniform patrols, five teams of task force officers will also be deployed to perform anti-crime patrols covering station concourses, platforms and train compartments to ensure the MTR remains one of the safest mass transit systems in the world." Enjoy your flight. | |
