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Police will launch the "992" Short Message System (SMS) Emergency Hotline Service tomorrow (October 21) to specifically provide services for persons who cannot use "999" emergency service owing to speech or hearing difficulty.

The "992" SMS Emergency Hotline Service is the first of its kind in the world. Persons with such impairments should register through one of the designated registration organisations before using the service.

A Police spokesman said that in emergency situation such as serious illnesses, traffic accidents, crimes and fire, the registered user could send a SMS to "992" with his/her registered mobile phone or household fixed line telephone requesting for assistance.

"Access to the '992' SMS emergency service by unregistered callers will be automatically rejected by the system."

"Police will handle every '992' SMS emergency message in the same procedure as handling a '999' call," he added.

The "992" SMS Emergency Hotline Service is planned and implemented by a working committee comprising representatives from the Police, Commissioner for Rehabilitation, Fire Services Department and several Non-Governmental Organisations.

The user guide for "992" SMS emergency service will be uploaded to http://www.info.gov.hk/police tomorrow. For enquiries and registration, please contact the following designated registration organisations:

Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong

Y's Men's Centre for the Deaf

Tel: 2717 1754, Fax: 2348 1612

Email: deafctr@ymca.org.hk

HK Lutheran Social Service

Cheung Ching Lutheran Centre for the Disabled

Tel: 2495 0118, Fax: 2434 2198

Email: r2@lutheran.org.hk

Hong Kong Association of the Deaf

Tel: 2327 2497, Fax: 2327 7445

Email: info@hongkongdeaf.org.hk

Hong Kong Society for the Deaf - Hong Kong Centre

Tel: 2854 2676, Fax: 2815 4723

Email: hsw@deaf.org.hk

Hong Kong Society for the Deaf - Kowloon Centre

Tel: 2711 1974, Fax: 2761 4390

Email: ksw@deaf.org.hk

Hong Kong Society for the Deaf - New Territories Centre

Tel: 2711 5688, Fax: 2711 5877

Email: ntc@deaf.org.hk

The Hong Kong Council of Social Service

Tel: 2864 2935, Fax: 2864 2962

Email: rh@hkcss.org.hk

Commissioner for Rehabilitation

Tel: 2973 8186, Fax: 2543 0486

Meanwhile, the "992" emergency fax hotline, which serves as an alternative for those who are not able to make use of the "999" hotline since 1993, will operate in parallel with the new short message system.

Police Report No.3

Issued by PPRB

Ends/1645 hrs, Wednesday, October 20, 2004 (KW/JL)

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