bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Billy Adams

APRIL'S bomb blast in London was massive and deadly and its shockwaves were felt around the world.

  Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorists set off the huge device in the heart of the British capital's bustling financial district, leaving one man dead, 34 people injured and a damage bill approaching GBP600 million (HK$7 billion).

  News that the headquarters of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank felt the full force of the blast sent the shockwaves back to the territory.

  Structural damage was extensive, every window was smashed and computers, files and furniture inside were destroyed.

  Businesses demanded action and some threatened to leave.

  London's reputation as a leading world centre was under threat.

  Now, six months later, it would be easy to imagine the city crippled by the damaging consequences of terrorist attacks.

  But London has been fighting back. And, so far, it seems to be winning the battle.

  Amazingly, some people believe the new look capital is a big improvement on the old one.

  Michael Cassidy, policy chairman at the Corporation of London, said: ''There's less traffic going through the City, it's less polluted and people are saying it's a nicer place to be.''   London, in effect, has obtained a city centre situation many of its counterparts crave.

  It is less congested and more environmentally friendly - but it has happened by default.

  After the bomb blast, action was taken to restrict entry to the Square Mile - the very centre of London.

  Drivers can now only enter the district at eight points, instead of 40.

  On each of them, a policeman stands guard 24 hours a day and can pull vehicles over for spot checks.

  Police have 60 more constables on the beat.

  Heavily armed officers are part of roaming road blocks which constantly watch out for trouble.

  Video surveillance cameras are also on every street corner.

  These security measures - and others which are not known to the public - are on trial for 12 months before the government decides if they will be extended.

  Mr Cassidy has been arming himself with statistics to present at a public inquiry to push for a permanent zone.

  He has commissioned a Mori poll of business reaction to the moves and is confident the results will be favourable.

  ''This whole thing has been enormously successful from the point of view that we are not experiencing a lot of extra traffic congestion.

  ''People coming into the area are changing from the car to train. Parking income is down 50 per cent since July and the number of vehicles has dropped from 7,500 to about 4,000 in the morning rush hour.

  ''We distributed 9,000 leaflets asking people what they thought of the measures and, of the 1,000 who replied, 90 per cent were in favour. I didn't think the level of support was that high.

  ''We've also been seen to take radical action and businesses are definitely a lot happier about it.''   Reaction to the scheme has been mixed.

  Civil liberties campaigners have hit out and there have been fears of traffic snarl ups.

   Mr Cassidy said: ''The number one priority on my list is the security issue.

  ''The Commissioner of Police has told me he now has a better chance of stopping a large lorry with a bomb.

      ''But there are no guarantees because we are talking about experienced terrorists.'' 



Precautions for IRA get business backing