Advanced access for high security Hong Kong Immigration Department's headquarters

Tyco Fire and Security recently announced that the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has chosen the CEM AC2000 (SE) (Standard Edition) access control system to secure its high security headquarters at the Immigration Tower, Wan Chai.  Thorn Security, Hong Kong was responsible for the entire system installation.

With its mission to contribute to the security and prosperity of Hong Kong, the Immigration Department controls the movement of people into and out of the HKSAR, as well as issuing passports, visas, identity cards, handling nationality matters and the registration of births, deaths and marriages.  Considerable effort also goes into detecting and prosecuting immigration law offenders and removing illegal immigrants.

"The Hong Kong government classifies the Immigration Department headquarters building as a high security zone and ensures it is guarded 24/7 ", commented Eddy Chau, Integrated Systems Manager at Thorn Security.  "With the customer, we chose the CEM AC2000 SE system based on the superior product reliability as well as previous CEM project references" Chau continued. 

AC2000 SE offered the client unmatched resilience at all levels of the system including a Linux-based central server that provides a cost effective, yet highly stable, operating platform and a second layer of distributed intelligence using the CEM S9020 controllers.

Unique to the security industry, AC2000 SE provides a third layer of distributed intelligence using the CEM InfoProxTM card readers.  As well as offering advanced features such as LCD display and keypad, the InfoProx reader has a large internal database that allows it to make access control decisions at the door even when offline from it's host S9020 controller.

"The highly commended InfoProx card reader is a compact, proximity card reader with an on-board database and offline memory capability that uniquely provides intelligence at the door" commented Andrew Fulton, business development director of Tyco Fire & Security's CEM products.  "With InfoProx continuing to operate in offline mode, entry/exit areas will remain secure at all times, proving an ideal solution for high security areas such as the Immigration Department headquarters". 

Currently the Immigration Department is integrating the AC2000 SE system with an emergency fire alarm system.  However, with the AC2000 SE system able to expand and fully integrate with many other third party systems, the client has the flexibility to upgrade the installed AC2000 SE system to cover future needs, such as DVR integration.

With CEM AC2000 SE HKSAR headquarters can continue to operate smoothly and securely in its vision to be the foremost effective and efficient immigration service in the world.

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