For information
19 February 1998
Provisional Legislative Council
Panel on Security
New Radio System for the Hong Kong Police Force
Purpose
This paper sets out the need to acquire a new radio system to replace the one currently used by the Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) and the Narcotics Bureau (NB) of the Police Force to meet their operational needs.
Background
2. At present, CIB and NB share one radio system to support their operations. The existing system was introduced in 1980. Being in service for 18 years, the system is aging with frequent breakdowns. The Police Force has also encountered increasing difficulty in obtaining spare parts for maintenance due to obsolescence of the system. Furthermore, with the changes in the geographical distribution of the population and the rapid development of the infrastructure in Hong Kong, the existing system can no longer fully meet the present operational requirements because -
- it has limited coverage;
- it has only limited radio channels which has constrained operational efficiency and flexibility;
- it has inadequate security protection against unauthorised access; and
- it is subject to increasing radio interference.
3. Instead of acquiring a new system, the Police Force has examined the feasibility of expanding the radio systems currently in use by other formations. Most of the existing systems such as the beat radio system and traffic control system are for general operations with inadequate security protection against unauthorised access. In addition, the radio coverage is provided on a district or division basis. They are therefore not suitable for use in territory-wide operations.
The Proposed New Radio System
4. Based on a thorough study of the operational requirement, the Police Force has proposed to acquire a new radio system to be jointly used by CIB and NB. The main characteristics of the new system are set out below -
- it can provide a wider radio coverage to include areas essential for Police operations;
- it can provide sufficient channels to allow flexible and efficient deployment of resources;
- it has enhanced security protection against unauthorised access;
- it can overcome the interference problem; and
- it has capacity for expansion in the next few years.
Cost Estimation
Non-recurrent cost
5. Drawing reference to the existing radio systems purchased through public tender and findings of market surveys, the Police Force estimates that the non-recurrent cost of acquiring the new radio system will be $198 million. The breakdown is at Annex.
Recurrent cost
6. The estimated additional annual recurrent expenditure arising from the proposed system will be $8,768,000, broken down as follows -
|
$'000 |
|
(a) Average system maintenance and spares cost for a book life of 12 years
|
4,731 |
|
(b) Lease line rental and radio licence fee
|
4,037 |
|
_____ |
|
Total
|
8,768 |
Implementation
7. Subject to Members' advice, we will seek the Finance Committee's funding approval. The Police Force plans to acquire the proposed radio system according to the following schedule -
|
(a) System design
|
|
March 1998 to July 1998 |
|
(b) Tendering and award of contract
|
|
August 1998 toJuly 1999 |
|
(c) Delivery of equipment, installation, acceptance tests and system commissioning
|
|
August 1999 to
September 2000 |
Security Bureau
February 1998
Annex
The breakdown of the non-recurrent cost of acquiring the new radio system is as follows -
|
|
$000 |
|
(a)
|
Command control and management sub-system
|
31,777 |
|
(b)
|
Radio repeater sub-system
|
38,220 |
|
(c)
|
Relay network sub-system
|
25,688 |
|
(d)
|
Mobile radio with encryption
|
28,690 |
|
(e)
|
Supporting services
(including design, installation, training and documentation.)
|
31,669 |
|
(f)
|
Site development, building service and miscellaneous works
|
16,000 |
|
(g)
|
Maintenance, test equipment and spares (for the first year)
|
11,194 |
|
(h)
|
Contingency
|
14,659 |
|
|
______ |
|
Total
say
|
197,897
198,000 |
