Force IT updates
Information Systems Wing empowering the Force through Internet technologies | |
 POINT man Samuel Foo of ITB taking ISW's new service for a test drive |
POLICE E-mail Network (PEN) users may have
noticed an interesting new icon on their computer screens called POINT and wondered what
is was.
Starting tomorrow (Thursday January 28), all will be revealed as the Information Systems Wing launches the first phase of its latest Force computer service innovation ¡Ð a Police Intranet/Internet project known as POINT (short for POlice INTranet). In phase one all computer terminals capable of accessing the PEN or Reference Manual (RM) systems ¡Ð that's more than 1,900 - can access POINT, which aims to be the central information repository of the Force. Eventually POINT will be available on all terminals connected to the Police Data Network. |
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"The aim of this new service is to enhance internal communication and improve productivity by disseminating vast amounts of internal police information to as many Force members as possible," said POINT project manager Samuel Foo of the Information Technology Branch. "POINT will also enable Force members to retrieve this important information easier and quicker." Starting right now, with a simple double click of the mouse, information and services available from POINT include:
¡EReference Manual (RM) Express, which enables on-line browsing of Force Manuals,
Headquarters Orders and video catalogues;
But that's just the beginning. | |
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Continues Mr Foo: "Although the scope of the initial roll-out of the project does not include access to the Internet, work is underway to extend Internet E-mail (employing Lotus Notes) and the World Wide Web to the Force." |
POINT icon
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In the second phase of the project which rolls out in mid-1999, all Force members who qualify as Internet users will be able to browse the Internet WWW using the same browser with POINT. Phase three, which rolls out at the end of the year, continues its outreach to all Force members with POINT available in all police station resource centres, and includes such Intranet applications as the Headquarters Communal Information System (HICS), the Transport Management Information System (TMIS), and the Ballistics and Firearms Management Information System (BFMIS). Indeed, with the rapid advance of information technology, in particular the recent popularity and increasing importance of the World Wide Web, the Information Systems Wing is not only connecting the Hong Kong Police Force internally to itself via the Intranet, but externally to the global community via the Internet. Questions regarding POINT can be directed to the ITB helpdesk on 2860-3444. | |
Tales from the frontlines... | |
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A MAN who came to Hong Kong on a
two-way permit and overstayed in the territory to work illegally was recently sentenced to
over four years in prison for attacking and seriously injuring two policemen ¡Ð who learned
that front line officers must remain ever vigilant in their day-to-day duties because every
situation, no matter how seemingly routine, has the potential to become life-threatening.
Detective Inspector Chong Shing-yat, attached to Tseung Kwan O, led a raid on two restaurants in the area after being informed that a man holding a fake identity card was working in one of them. |
 Injured on duty, Detective Inspector Chong Shing-yat: "The assault, and its severity, took us by surprise" |
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While checking identity cards of kitchen staff working in On Ning Garden restaurant, Detective Inspector Chong and Detective Police Constable Chan Wing-kwong were attacked by several men with knives. In the fierce fight that ensued the detectives sustained severe injuries to their heads, faces and fingers. "The assault, and its severity, took us by surprise," said Detective Inspector Chong, recalling the attack ¡Ð the first he had ever sustained in his ten-year career as a police officer. "Because the restaurant was full of customers and staff we couldn't draw our weapons in self-defence. It would have been extremely dangerous to open fire under the circumstances. Moreover, had we unholstered our weapons during the fight, there was a chance that our attackers might have snatched the guns ¡Ð the consequences of which would have been unthinkable." As a result the detectives were forced to take on their knife-wielding assailants with their bare hands and whatever they could grab to defend themselves. Eventually, with blood streaming down their faces and wounded, the two officers managed to subdue one attacker to the floor, while the others fled amid the chaos. After backup arrived and the assailant was arrested both DIP Chong and DPC Chan were rushed to hospital for treatment, the former being discharged after a few days while Mr Chan, who sustained more severe wounds especially to his face, remained much longer in recovery. Both were visited by the Commissioner of Police, as well as Kwun Tong District Commander Tam Kwok-wing. "I really felt shaken up following the incident, but somehow managed to overcome it," said 30-year-old Chong Shing-yat, who was promoted from police constable to inspector in 1994. "The episode made me fully understand that for police officers every situation is different ¡Ð and potentially dangerous. We must therefore remain ever alert and on guard because you can never predict how a person or a group of people is going to react. Even for seemingly minor cases such as the issuing of fixed penalty tickets, you can never predict how your 'client' will respond. But that's a police officer's life. Faced with all the precarious situations when executing our duties, what we must do is stay calm, rely on our colleagues for support, make use of our training and experience and protect ourselves as best we can." Although the incident occurred on 31 July last year, DPC Chan continues to receive medical treatment and has remained on sick leave. Both officers feel that their decision not to draw and fire their weapons was the right one. Detective Inspector Chong Shing-yat has since transferred to Kwun Tong: "What I hope for most is for my colleague and friend Chan Wing-kwong to fully recover and for us to pair-up again in future postings." | |
