10
Wednesday, March 15, 1972
LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FOR CAREER IN POLICE FORCE
The Hon. P.C. Woo Wants To Know Why
The Honourable P.C. Woo wants Government to find out why there is a lack
of enthusiasm among young people for careers in the Police Force.
He wanted to know whether the present increase of police salary was
sufficient to attract young recruits;
whether the risk they had to run deterred
them from joining the force or was it because their parents did not deem it an
honourable occupation for their children.
Mr. Woo asked these questions in the Legislative Council today when
the Unofficial Members spoke on the Budget.
"These are matters we must look into in order to boost recruitment
for the Police Force," he stressed.
In his view, he said, one of the causes of the rise in crime committed
particularly by youngsters was that Hong Kong had not enough policemen on the
streets to combat them.
"I know that the Police Force is below strength to the extent of over
1,700 in rank and file and as Chairman of the Establishment Sub-Committee I know
that the Commissioner of Police had proposed to Government to enlarge the
establishment to the extent of about 2,000 men,"
He pointed out that roughly, if the estimate of the Police Commissioner
were correct, the Police force was about 4,000 men below strength in order to
combat crime.
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