Addressing a large gathering of guests, including representatives from the Architectural Services Department and the Yau Lee Construction Company as well as community leaders from CDIST, guest of honour Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Yam Tat-wing said realisation of the project would represent a milestone of the Force's efforts to provide enhanced policing services to the community.

The new headquarters will provide a base for the eagerly anticipated amalgamation of Central and Waterfront Divisions and will improve cost-effectiveness and ensure better use of human resources, Mr Yam added.

Completion of the project has been scheduled for September this year. Thereafter, the current Waterfront Police Station will also be refurbished to tie in with opening of the new District Headquarters. CDIST Headquarters and Central Division will move from Arsenal House to start operations on the new premises in early 2010.

Facilities in the new headquarters will include a fitness training room, resource centre, district operations room, conference room, lecture and training room, changing and operational standby rooms as well as video interview rooms. To cater for the unique operational features of CDIST, a major events operation room will be provided to accommodate other police units and personnel from the government departments participating in large-scale crowd management and public order events as well as other major operations. The new building will also have unique environmental features that will serve to reduce energy consumption.

The facilities will be shared and in addition some facilities at the current Waterfront Police Station, such as the armoury and canteen, will be modified and expanded. Other facilities in Waterfront Police Station, including the Report Room, will be upgraded in support of the Force's continuous efforts to provide the public with a comfortable and assuring environment. Thereafter Waterfront Police Station will be subsumed into the new Central District Headquarters structure.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Yue Chi-hang, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the CDIST Headquarters Planning Team, Planning and Development Branch, Yau Lee Construction Co and the design consultants for their joint effort to make the project a reality.

Deputy Commissioner Yam Tat-wing tells guests that the CDIST Headquarters project marks a milestone of the Force's efforts to provide enhanced services to the community