In emergencies that leave your head spinning, can you remember that 110 is for police, 119 for fire and 122 for road accidents?

If your answer is not a confident "yes," there's good news you have to dial only 110 for any emergency in Beijing from the second half of the year, the city's public security bureau announced yesterday.

Police officers, firefighters or traffic police will be despatched once the headquarters receives a 110 call. But 119 and 122 will remain in use and residents are encouraged to continue using the numbers to ease the pressure on 110 operators, said Ji Kaixuan, director of Beijing's 110 Emergency Centre.

He said the move is for public convenience and for better co-operation among different departments so that "we can respond faster and more effectively to emergency calls."

Meanwhile, addressing public complaints that it is sometimes difficult to get through to 110, the centre is planning to expand the existing 16 lines to 30 by July. In 2008, it will be able to handle 60 calls simultaneously to ensure a safe Beijing Olympic Games.

"Direct access to 110 with no delay is our aim and responsibility," Ji said.

Bureau officers told China Daily that an English service for emergency calls will be provided by 2008.

The centre is also working with telecommunications departments to enable residents to report emergencies through mobile phone text messages when they cannot get through on the telephone, but the system will not be up and running till the second half of the year.

Last year, Beijing handled 3.67 million 110 calls, up 9.4 percent from the previous year; and more than 11,000 suspects were caught on the spot.

It also helped handle civic problems such as noise, leaking pipes and even conflicts resulting from love affairs. Since it was set up a decade ago, Beijing 110 has helped more than 5.45 million people out of such troubles.

(China Daily January 10, 2006)