Together with Senior Directorate Group officers, Mr Lee officiated at HQCCC's grand opening, marking completion of its total modernisation and refurbishment. This occasion has special meanings for the Commissioner for he has a long association with Operations Wing dating back to 1997 when he was the ACP SD. He has also been ACP OPS, D OPS and DCP OPS.

Since its first relocation from May House to Arsenal House (now East Wing) back in 1990, the old HQCCC was a modest facility with large paper maps of the territory posted on walls surrounding several desks with just a few telephones and ECACCS terminals. A handful of small black-and-white monitors, installed at the "Bridge" of HQCCC, supplying video feeds from traffic cameras, were at that time the only "eyes" for the Force's most senior commanding officers.

After 15 years and with the full support of the senior management, HQCCC was finally refurbished and equipped with the most up-to-date IT and communications technologies in time for the HKMC later this month. The highest level of the Force's chain of command now has access to a maximum of 256 live video sources from CCTVs, traffic cameras, mobile video team and GFS helicopters; opening the "eyes" of HQCCC to incidents happening across the territory. Crystal clear video images can be instantly projected on the state-of-the-art 12-meter-wide video wall, which uses an advanced display technology that was developed in the United States for space missions.

Digital maps of the territory can now be displayed on the widescreen Video Wall using the World Tactical Mapping (WTM) system in CACCS3. Apart from maps and video feeds, HQCCC manning staff can keep abreast of the latest incident developments by monitoring the newly introduced "e-log" incident log system and Cable TV news which can also be viewed on the Video Wall.

With Phase II of the refurbishment completed, the "Bridge" has been transformed into a sound-proof high-tech conference suite overseeing the entire HQCCC. It is installed with a Video Conferencing Unit together with a large electronic smoked glass window that can be switched between transparent and opaque, with the press of a button.

The Counter Terrorism suite has also been modernised in-line with HQCCC while maintaining a high level of communication confidentiality and efficiency.

The all-new HQCCC goes far beyond being just an attraction for visitors to admire the Force's high-tech developments; it has been thoroughly tested during many major Force exercises and live operations.

The Commissioner thanked the staff for developing the capabilities of the all-new HQCCC that will prove to be one of the most valuable tools for the senior management in commanding the Force with confidence to meet the challenges of all major events to come.

CP unveils a plaque to mark completion of HQCCC's modernisation

HQCCC is equipped with the most up-to-date IT and communications technologies