Security fear over outside police staff
Lawmakers want security checks carried out on outside staff hired to maintain and repair a new radio system for the police anti-terrorism squad.
The Special Duties Unit, which mounts counter-terrorism and serious crime operations, is replacing its 13-year-old radio system with HK$39 million, state-of-the-art equipment.
The system is so outdated that the force has been cannibalising decommissioned police radio equipment for replacement parts, legislators were told at a security panel meeting yesterday.
Legislators queried the wisdom of outsourcing the maintenance of the new radio equipment, saying it would be possible for non-police personnel to sabotage the system.
'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung argued: 'The employees of the sub-contractor may be very technical people but you will not be able to check whether they are heavy in debt or what their political beliefs are, and it may become very dangerous ... they could sabotage a device.'
He was backed up by James To Kun-sun, the legislator representing the security sector, who said even janitors working in sensitive locations had to undergo background checks.
Police say hiring outsourced staff is necessary because it is more cost-effective than maintaining the system in-house due to the increase in equipment and accessories and a new digital, computerised system.
Henrique Koo Sii-hong, an assistant commissioner of police, said background checks would not be necessary as the work would be done by the same company that manufactured and installed the equipment.
Jolly Wong Chun-kau, the police's chief telecommunication engineer for communications, said whether the work was outsourced or not, the encryption key would be held by the operations staff of the unit. 'Even if we do it in-house, the technical staff would not be able to access the key,' Mr Wong said.
If the Legislative Council's Finance Committee approves the proposals, the equipment is expected to be installed by June next year.
Legislators also considered the replacement of three 20-year-old launches for the Customs and Excise Department as part of its anti-smuggling measures.
The total cost for the faster boats, which have advanced laser and distance-measuring devices, would be HK$117 million.
