Civil Protection operation to run 24/7

The Second Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly met to discuss a law bill regarding the merging of the Security Forces Coordination Office (GCSEG) and the Unitary Police Services (SPU).

Those in attendance included the commissioner-general of the SPU, Ma Io Kun. Chan Chak Mo, the chairman of the committee, was available after the meeting’s end to talk to the media and provide details regarding the matter discussed.

Currently, there are 75 people working for SPU and 27 working for GCSEG.

According to Chan, following the merging of the two departments, the resulting number of employees will remain the same as the current total of the two departments.

The government representatives explained to the Committee that, after the merge, any employee can return to their old position, if they decide to do so.

The merge will not change any policies, including for promotion of employees.

Currently, there exists a Civil Protection Operational Centre belonging to GCSEG. “They hope the center can operate 24 hours [per day], in the future, to immediately detect emergencies,” said Chan, who also said that the Committee was concerned about whether the merged SPU could handle the expected number of issues.

Twenty-seven people presently work for the center. The lawmakers questioned whether the future SPU would be able to run operations concerning civil protection issues smoothly.

In Chan’s words, the government responded by stating that once the restructuring of the police force is complete, it will suggest an amendment to the laws regarding SPU’s structure and role.

“Related bills, in fact, have been forwarded to the Chief Executive Council,” Chan disclosed.

A Civil Protection and Coordination Centre will be added to the future SPU, and it will be managed by an extra director assistant.

Two offices, including a computer and information technology division, and a news and public relations division, will both become official divisions after the merger is complete.

Chan said that no schedule has been drafted regarding the future 24-hour civil protection operation.

According to Chan, in order to accomplish said purpose, the police force has already found a place five times the size of the current Civil Protection Operational Centre.

Chan also said that the 24-hour operation will be established soon after the related laws are passed.

The Civil Protection Operational Centre is currently located in the Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau (DSFSM) building at Calçada dos Quartéis.

Commisioner-general Ma said last year that the police force would suggest either expanding their current facilities or building new ones for the center.