Keeping clear: The Police Communications Branch's Fred Lam says Phoebe Ng has been chosen to provide the voiceovers for recorded hotline messages due to her clarity and eloquence.

People needing Police assistance will soon have just one telephone number to dial for any enquiries they may have.

The Police Communications Branch has just launched phase one of the Consolidated Interactive Voice Response System, covering Police licensing matters.

The force presently operates eight different enquiry hotlines, but upon full implementation of the new system next year, a single number will replace them all.

The centralised hotline will be publicised in due course.

Its main objectives are to offer better services to the public, improve efficiency and save manpower, management, and maintenance resources.

Messages on the new system will be recorded in Cantonese, Putonghua and English.