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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1978
OVER $1,000M BUDGETTED FOR LAW AND ORDER SERVICES
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, HAS BUDGETTED $1,024 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE ON LAW AND ORDER SERVICES IN 1978-79-$638 MILLION OF WHICH WOULD GO TOWARDS THE COST OF MAINTAINING THE REGULAR POLICE FORCE.
THIS REPRESENTS 10 PER CENT OF TOTAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE FOR 1978-79.
THE LAW AND ORDER SERVICES INCLUDE THE IMMIGRATION, I.C.A.C., JUDICIARY, LEGAL DEPARTENT, PRISONS, REGISTRAR GENERAL AND THE POLICE.
PRESENTING HIS SEVENTH BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHARED THE CONTINUING PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF CRIME, BUT POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES HAD CONTINUED TO FALL SINCE 1974-75.
+MOREOVER, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1971-72, THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF SERIOUS CRIMES IN 1977-78,+ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
+NO DOUET THE INCREASE IN POLICE MANPOWER HAS CONTRIBUTED VERY LARGELY TO THIS IMPROVED SITUATION, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO SEE THAT THE DOWNWARD TREND IS MAINTAINED,+ HE ADDED.
MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO REVEALED THAT THE $638 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE POLICE FORCE INCLUDES THE PROVISION FOR 1,987 NEW POSTS YET TO BE APPROVED, AND THE ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT.
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