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
dispatched 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 Center.
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)