This, according to Planning and Development's Project Manager, Superintendent Graham Lander, has been one of the challenges his team has faced in implementing the Force-wide customer service exercise, and in building a corporate image.

Introducing a host of changes aimed at making stations more customer friendly and technologically efficient is not always easy when dealing with older buildings such as Sham Shui Po, Wan Chai, Central or Yau Ma Tei. But through careful planning and creative designing it is possible to achieve these objectives, Mr Lander said.

"One example is the work carried out at Yau Ma Tei Station. The Report Room area and main public entrance have been greatly improved, providing additional facilities and using modern materials which improve maintenance. However, the character and style have remained. In fact, I believe these have been improved," he said.

"The supporting columns have been exposed and the ceiling raised a little which shows off some of the original architecture in a more prominent manner than before."

Other stations such as Sham Shui Po and Central have yet to be improved but initial design work has begun. Constraints in what can be done are contained in Antiquities and Monuments (A&M) legislation and the Project Team works closely with A&M staff, according to the Architectural Services Department's Bill Telfer, on secondment to the Force.

"Similar hurdles had to be overcome when improving Western Police Station where we had to do a lot of remodelling of the Report Room, which included rebuilding of the armoury. This involved both logistical and security problems as we had to maintain it's function throughout," Mr Telfer said.

Also recently finished was the Mong Kok Report Room where the Duty Officer's area was transformed from an overcrowded office with a maze of equipment and cables into an enlarged, well-designed and high-tech area customised to provide the level of service a busy station required.

The use of CCTV has also been introduced to improve Report Room and cell access management as well as station and compound security.

Director of Management Services Douglas Lau Yuk-kuen and members of the Force Steering Group on Customer Service Improvement visited Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and Kwai Chung stations recently to inspect the progress of work. Mr Lau congratulated all concerned for their efforts in achieving such high standards.

The overall progress of improvements is a little slower than originally envisaged but is nevertheless still on target.

By September 1, 13 stations will have re-opened new Report Rooms (Western, Mong Kok, Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung, Yau Ma Tei, Wong Tai Sin, Cheung Chau, Wan Chai, Sai Kung, Ma On Shan, Marine Harbour, Tin Sum and Kwun Tong) and in most of those, all other work will have been substantially completed.

A further 10 report rooms in Sheung Shui, Waterfront, Chai Wan, Yuen Long, Ho Man Tin, Ngau Tau Kok, Tai Po, Tsim Sha Tsui, Cheung Sha Wan and Sham Shui Po are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, taking the total to 23.

Mr Lander said not only have District and Divisional commanders been impressed with the improvements, but Junior Police Officers who are very much involved, have also expressed their satisfaction.

Rounding up, Mr Lander said: "It must be stressed that what we are doing in this project is providing the hardware. The software comes from officers who implement the changes assisted by their customer service training.

"If we provide staff with the right environment this can only assist in the process."

JPO feedback: More space, security and convenience

OffBeat spoke with three Junior Police Officers about their new work environments and all agreed the changes were greatly facilitating their daily jobs.

Woman Police Constable So Suk-yee of Western District said: "The changing room and the resource centre of our station have been greatly improved. We have well-designed lockers making the changing room more tidy and providing more space to store our belongings, plus the new combination locks offer a lot more security.

"Also, in the past, there was no computer in our resource centre but now we can make use of equipment connected to the PEN and POINT systems."

WPC Hung Yee-man of Yau Ma Tei Division said: "Report room security has been upgraded with a Closed Circuit Television System. A more modern design has also changed it into a better and more comfortable working place."

Report Room Duty Officer Station Sergeant Iu Keung added: "Previously, we had to share the Report Room computers which were limited in number. The room's innovative design also increases our working space. The introduction of the reception area is a great idea too because officers can screen the requests of everyone entering the Report Room, ensuring it does not get overcrowded."

Solemn columns A fresh face has been applied to a host of antique police stations while retaining all their charm and grace of yesteryear. The Planning and Development team overcame some major structural and architechural challenges to make the old stations more staff and customer friendly, the fruits of which can be seen above with the new-look Yau Ma Tei report room.

Good relations station: Old stations like YMT have upped comfort and efficiency

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