Tight security for visitors as crime wave hits London
AS London battles a crime wave that has left its middle-class under siege, many Hong Kongers visiting the capital for Christmas shopping are choosing to stay in a hotel that claims to have the best security system in the city.
The St James Court, only a couple of blocks from Buckingham Palace, even has apartments with secret escape passages. They are often occupied by heads of state.
It is the European flagship of the Taj Group of Hotels.
''We have very tight security and Hong Kong businessmen are deciding to stay here,'' said Mr Subhash Thakkar, director of sales and marketing.
''Their wives are also making the St James Court their base because the hotel is so close to London's best outlets for Christmas shopping. We are also hoping to attract students from Hong Kong who study in London to our apartments.'' Security is becoming a priority with many visitors to the capital as crime soars.
A survey by the London Evening Standard newspaper published last month found that nearly half of the middle-class households in the city interviewed had become victims of crime.
It showed that as many as one in seven of all Londoners may have been mugged or assaulted, and a quarter of all households burgled.
A third of middle-class homes in London have been burgled, the survey indicates, with one in three of those properties being struck more than once.
Guns are also being increasingly used by criminals in a nation where police officers still patrol unarmed. Nine policemen have been shot since January last year. One London officer was killed only a few weeks ago by a drug dealer.
For obvious reasons, Mr Thakkar could not divulge all aspects of security at the St James Court, but he said it is believed to have the tightest security measures of any London hotel.
Secret passageways leading from some of the apartments are among them. The Kuwait royal family and its entourage stayed there after they fled the Gulf war. Also, gems dealers take advantage of the security system.
And of course the area around the St James Court is a security priority: Buckingham Palace and Parliament are within walking distance. The Queen has even dined at the hotel, which is also popular with MPs.
The hotel, which is situated in Buckingham Gate, Westminster, has 418 rooms and 100 apartments ranging from studios to spacious three-bedroomed accommodation with butler service.
The apartment block in the hotel grounds overlooks a private courtyard and there is 24-hour security at the entrance.
Mr Thakkar said that every time a room or apartment is entered, the time is automatically registered by the computerised security system.
The hotel, which is noted for its Edwardian architecture, was built as a residential block for the aristocracy.
It first became a hotel in 1950, but was taken over by the Taj group in 1982, and was closed for 30 months for renovations costing a massive GBP63 million (about HK$720 million).
The City of Westminster made an award to the Taj Group for its efforts to preserve the building's historical architecture. Part of the film Howard's End was shot there.
The St James Court also claims to have the largest business centre in London, open 24 hours a day, with multi-lingual secretaries.
It has a gymnasium for serious sportsmen. For the past four years it has been the official hotel for Wimbledon tennis stars.
The Taj Group has also flown in chefs from Hong Kong to run its Chinese restaurant. The hotel has three restaurants, French, Mediterranean and Chinese.
