In fact, this version was released to CIS end-users (users of Formation and Information Communal System (FICS), Regional Information Communal System (RICS) and Traffic Operations and Management System (TOMS)) between August 14 and September 7. In addition, there are two major improvements included in this version - "Detained Person Module" and "Supervisory Function".

The former provides users with a more user-friendly system to easily monitor the detention and movements of detained persons and streamlines manual operations used when generating reports and preparing meal and transfer listings.

With the latter, users can now have full access to their formation cases (by reference numbers) unless classified as "Confidential", and the RICS Supervisory Officers (in Regional Headquarters units) not only have reading or writing access to cases under investigation by their respective subordinates, but can also communicate with case officers directly through the "Minute" function and monitor progress through the "Check List" function.

To support high demand for the system, corresponding hardware upgrades to servers and workstations have also been conducted. About two-thirds of the server population (40 units in total) have now been upgraded with higher-end processors and larger storage volume, and the rest will have been upgraded by the end of December 2001. All production and training workstations (2,000 units in total) have been upgraded with 256M RAM capacity. It is believed that average performance capability of the CIS will be increased by about 30 per cent as a result of both hardware and software upgrades.

This is just a brief introduction to the new CIS. For more details, please visit the "CIS version 6.0" section in POINT at: http://ux37phq.hpf.gov.hk:8088/bbs/isw/cis60/index.htm

If you would like to contribute feedback or suggestions regarding this new version, you can present them in the "Discussion Forum" on the Information Systems Wing homepage http://ux37phq.hpf.gov.hk:8088/bbs/isw/index.htm