Government who take an active interest in these important matters, and will, in due course, announce the further measures that we propose to take.
LAW, ORDER AND JUSTICE
74. Law and order is a permanent priority area. The criminal and the corrupt threaten our way of life. We need to deter potential law-breakers, to pursue criminals ruthlessly and to ensure that they are brought swiftly to justice. The community looks to our brave Police Force, to the ICAC and to the Judiciary to protect its members and their personal rights and property.
Securing Safe Streets
75. The first line of defence against crime for the community at large is a substantial and visible police presence on the streets. Nothing deters the potential law-breaker, particularly violent criminal gangs, more than a high risk of coming face-to-face with fully-trained, well-equipped and thoroughly professional police teams. Hong Kong has already achieved a high level of policing with 460 officers per 100 000 of the population (compared with 400 in London and 350 in Tokyo).
76. But we want to maintain these levels, and over the last three years we were losing more officers from the force than we were able to recruit. Fortunately, the package announced in May to boost the recruitment of junior police officers has worked. The number of officers recruited so far this year stands at 1 261: 78% higher than the figure for the equivalent period in 1991. More recruits and better deployment of the force mean that we can put more police officers on to the streets where it counts. Our plan is to have around 800 extra police officers on the streets next year.
Co-operation Against Crime
77. Triad and organised crime continue to menace the peace and security of the community. We are determined to combat them. The Organised and Serious Crimes Bill now before this Council will be a major weapon in this battle.
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