WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979
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POLICE FORCE IN BETTER SHAPE
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THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE WAS NOW IN BETTER SHAPE WITH IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE SENIOR AND JUNIOR RANKS OF THE FORCE, AND A BETTER MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE STRENGTH OF THE FORCE EXPANDED BY 48 PER CENT BETWEEN 1973 AND 1978 WHILE THE EXPANSION DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAD BEEN FIVE PER CENT, SIR MURRAY SAID.
+THIS REFLECTS THE PHASE OF CONSOLIDATION AND CONCENTRATION ON IMPROVEMENT OF COMMAND AND MANAGEMENT, RECOMMENDED BY THE HOME OFFICE INSPECTOR, MR. JAMES CRANE, IN 1978, + HE SAID.
ON WELFARE AND PRACTICAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE FORCE, SIR MURRAY SAID THE CONDITIONS FOR BOTH WORK AND RECREATION OF THE POLICE WOULD BE IMPROVED AS ROOM COULD BE FOUND IN THE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME.
HE SAID PAY FOR THE POLICE AND OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES WAS BEING LOOKED AT BY THE STANDING COMMISSION ON SALARIES AND HE HOPED TO HAVE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS VERY SOON.
SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT THE FORCE IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY YOUNG ONE, AND THE BURDEN OF SUPERVISION PLACED ON OLDER AND MORE EXPERIENCED OFFICERS IS PROPORTIONATELY GREAT.
+THERE IS NO REAL WAY ROUND THIS PROBLEM EXCEPT TIME, HE SAID. +BUT TO EASE THE BURDEN TRAINING FACILITIES, INCLUDING IN-SERVICE CONTINUATION TRAINING, HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLY EXTENDED.+
SIR MURRAY SAID THE NUMBER OF ROBBERIES HAD DROPPED FROM A HIGH RATE OF 40 PER DAY AT THE BEGINNING OF 1974 TO 16 LAST YEAR AND EARLY THIS YEAR, AS THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME GAINED MOMENTUM.
BUT IN RECENT MONTHS, DUE TO HIGH PRICE AND SHORTAGE OF DRUGS, THERE HAD BEEN A SHARP INCREASE TO ABOUT 28 ROBBERIES A DAY, HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE POLICE HAD REACTED QUICKLY AND THE INCREASE APPEARED TO BE HELD,
+THE PROBLEM NOW IS TO FORCE IT BACK AGAIN, HE SAID.
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND POLICE AGAINST CRIME HAD BEEN ENHANCED AND ONE OUT OF TEN CRIMINALS ARRESTED THIS YEAR WAS EFFECTED BY THE PUBLIC, SIR MURRAY SAID.
+THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME CANNOT BE A MATTER FOR THE POLICE ALONE, HE STRESSED.
+THE FORCE CAN BE RELIED UPON TO TAKE ACTION WHENEVER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ARE REPORTED TO THEM BUT TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL THEY MUST HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.
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