Distribution of some 3,500 mobile phones together with a number of accessories, including desk-top chargers, spare batteries and tailor-made charger racks, to formations is now proceeding and will be completed by May 4. The network services for the phones will be activated on May 5.

Together with the 355 mobile phones used in a three-month pilot scheme conducted between July and October last year, there are about 3,900 Force mobile phones available to beat officers.

Three beat officers of Happy Valley Division, in an interview with OffBeat, said that they all agreed that the Force mobile phone is an effective tool to supplement the existing beat radio system.

Sergeant Lee Chi-hing said: "With the beat radio remaining the primary means for communication, the Force mobile phone can be used in situations such as poor radio reception, or when lengthy reports or sensitive information needs to be called into the console.

"The phones not only enhance our service to the public but also give us more confidence in carrying out our duty."

Woman Police Constable Tse Pui-lam added: "The use of Force mobile phones offers us an alternative way to contact officers when the beat radio system is heavily in use or the officer is at a location which is a black spot of the beat radio system."

Police Constable Cheuk Man-kit illustrated the value of the Force mobile phones with his experience in apprehending a suspect of a burglary attempt case on Wong Nai Chung Road in January. "To confirm the culprit's whereabouts, I called the informant direct with the mobile phone and the culprit was eventually caught red-handed," Mr Cheuk recalled.

To select suitable service providers and handsets, Communications Branch (COMMS) conducted a technically-based coverage test which involved some 178 testing points throughout the territories in February.

COMMS Superintendent Wong So-ying said: "The coverage and the reception of the network were considered in the test. Since various service providers perform differently in different districts, two service providers have been subsequently selected.

"For the selection of handsets, ease of use and performance were the determining factors. Three mobile phone models, including the one used in the pilot scheme, have been chosen for our beat officers."

Ms Wong told OffBeat that they are now working on the procurement of purpose-made mobile phone pouches. "The phones should be placed in officers' waist pouches for the time being until purpose-made pouches are produced.

She continued: "Colleagues with any queries about the operation of the phones can refer to the related user guides or call the service providers' 24-hour hotlines which solely handle enquiries regarding the Force mobile phones.

"The mobile phones will ultimately be replaced after the commissioning of the Third Generation Command and Control System (CCIII). The new CCIII radio, with telephone interconnect capability, is expected to go live in 2005," concluded Ms Wong.

For further enquiries, please call Ms Wong at 2979-1530.