The Information & Communications Network Management Centre (ICNMC), an integration of the Information Technology Branch (ITB) Central Help Desk and the Communications Branch (COMMS) Emergency Fault Report Centre, opened officially on January 15.

Present at the opening ceremony were Director of Management Services Mike Dowie, Assistant Commissioner (Information Systems) To Chun-wai, Chief Telecommunications Engineer Jolly Wong and Chief Systems Manager K L Hui, as well as many other guests.

In his opening speech, Mr Dowie said: "The ICNMC is a single integrated centre creating Information Systems Wing's corporate service interface that will handle round the clock information and communications technology enquiries and requests for emergency repair services to all formations in the Force. It has taken two years of hard and dedicated work by a team comprising ITB, COMMS Branch and Business Service Bureau to reach this final stage."

The centre, located on 3/F, Arsenal House East Wing, handles daily enquiries and requests for repair services on ICT by formations, which average 18,000 per month. It is also a proactive network management centre monitoring the system performance of all Force major radio platforms round the clock. In addition, it monitors video signal strength and picture quality during Force exercises and operations. ICNMC shift team members have to remain vigilant to any audible alarms, such as a seemingly trivial beep from a computer speaker that could be an important warning sign of a possible system failure!

By maintaining close liaison with the ITB Computer Suite on 4/F, Arsenal House East Wing, the ICNMC will continuously monitor the Force IT systems and provide instant response to enquiries on computer systems' performance. For any ICT enquiries or repair services, contact the ICNMC on 2860-3444, by fax 2529-8294 or by email at isw-helpdesk@police.gov.hk.

"The success of this venture is the result of the concerted efforts by the Business Services Bureau of Information Systems Wing working together with ITB and COMMS staff members," said Chief Telecommunications Engineer Jolly Wong.

Mr Dowie opens the integrated centre