THE Urban Redevelopent Authority has been selling more land for the construction of new hotels. Hotels at the two integrated resorts are also under construction.

Hotels around the world have been targeted by terrorists.

Do the new hotels under construction and those on the drawing board in Singapore have adequate security measures in the following areas?

• Exits and entrances

All side and back doors should be equipped with surveillance cameras to prevent intruders from entering the hotel.

• Back-of-house areas

Staff areas and operation zones should be segregated to prevent unauthorised entry.

All staff areas should not be located in operation zones or integrated with them. These include purchasing areas, loading bays and laundry, housekeeping and security areas.

There should be only one connecting door between these zones.

Checks should be made at the connecting door, and no one should be allowed to pass through with their personal effects, such as bags.

There should be maximum security at that door to prevent terrorists from entering and staff from stealing things from the hotel.

• Fire-escape exits

There should be no access to floors where guest rooms are located from fire-escape stairwells.

The authorities should make it a rule for all owners of new hotels to engage qualified security consultants to study the design of their hotels and submit floorplans for approval before they are allowed to proceed with construction.

Mr Tan Kok Tim

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