IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS IN ENTRY PAY FOR THE RANK-AND-FILE, THE STANDING COMMITTEE HAS ALSO RECOMMENDED, WITH EFFECT FROM A CURRENT DATE, THAT THE PAY FOR THE RANK-AND-FILE IN THE POLICE OR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE FURTHER INCREASED IN ORDER TO RECOGNISE THEIR HEAVIER AND WIDER RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES.
"HAVING EVALUATED THE WORK OF THE RANK-AND-FILE ACCORDING TONER ALL THE RELEVANT JOB FACTORS, THE STANDING COMMITTEE CONCLUDED THAT JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE RANKED AHEAD OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"A JUNIOR POLICE OFFICER HAS A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF LAW- ENFORCEMENT DUTIES, WHICH HE OFTEN HAS TO CARRY OUT ALONE, AND WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM A SUPERIOR OFFICER.
"THE DEMANDS PLACED UPON A JUNIOR POLICE OFFICER VARY GREATLY, AND ARE UNPREDICTABLE.
"IN ADDITION, A JUNIOR POLICE OFFICER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING ARMED, IS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC AND FREQUENTLY NEEDS TO EXERCISE DISCRETION IN A QUICK AND DECISIVE MANNER, SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
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THE
THE INCREASE IN THE STARTING PAY FOR
PAY FOR POLICE CONSTABLE WOULD RANGE FROM $955 TO $1,165, REPRESENTING A 13.9 PER CENT TO 18.4 PER CENT INCREASE, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS. THE INCREASE IN PAY FOR ALL SERVING JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS, INCLUDING SERGEANTS AND STATION SERGEANTS, WOULD RANGE FROM $395 TO $1,165, OR FROM 2.9 PER CENT TO 18.4 PER CENT.
THE NEW PAY SCALES RECOMMENDED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS ARE AT ANNEX D.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IN RECOMMENDING ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS IN PAY FOR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS, THE STANDING COMMITTEE EMPHASISED THAT THIS DID NOT DETRACT IN ANYWAY FROM THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY THE OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES IN MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND SECURITY OF HONG KONG.
THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE GENERAL INCREASES IN ENTRY PAY IS $73 MILLION A YEAR AND THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE ADDITIONAL PAY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE POLICE IS $121 MILLION A YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS WOULD NEED TO BE APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
ANNEXES A TO D WILL BE SENT BY FACSIMILE AND BOXED.
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