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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1980
SIR PHILIP SAID REPORTED CRIME ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE YEAR, SHOWING A 22 PER CENT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIE (17 604 COMPARED WITH 14 376 IN 1978) AND A 17 PER CENT INCREASE IN SERIOUS CRIME (61 516 COMPARED WITH 52 383 IN 1978)..
THIS TREND, HE SAID, COINCIDED WITH A MARKED SHORTAGE AT STREET LEVEL OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS DUE PARTLY TO SUCCESSFUL ENFORCEMENT ACTION BOTH HERE AND IN THAILAND, RESULTING IN HIGHER PRICES OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS.
+THERE IS NO DOUBT AN INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS AND THE INCIDENCE OF QUICK-CASH CRIME SUCH AS ROBBERIES, BURGLARIES AND THEFT. BUT THE PRISON MUSTER OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS DROPPED FROM 6 406 IN JANUARY TO 5 919 IN DECEMBER 1979, HE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE MORE REPORTING OF CRIME AND BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC INCLUDED THE EXPANSION BY 149 POSTS OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING SCHEME AND AN ADDITIONAL 46 NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE UNITS AND POLICE REPORTING CENTRES IN 1980-81.
+A
+A MAJOR EFFORT WAS REQUIRED FROM THE FORCE DURING THE YEAR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, HE SAID, ADDING SMALL BOAT UNIT WAS ESTABLISHED, AND NINE NEW SECTOR LAUNCHES WERE ORDERED FOR DELIVERY IN 1980-81 AT A TOTAL CAPITAL COST OF $61.7 MILLION, +
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT,
SIR PHILIP SAID THAT TO MEET PRESSURES BROUGHT ON BY IMMIGRATION, LEGAL AND ILLEGAL, AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WAS EXPANDED DRAMATICALLY.
ITS AUTHORISED ESTABLISHMENT HAS INCREASED FROM 1 757 IN 1979-80 TO 2 570 IN THE 1980-81 DRAFT ESTIMATES. ABOUT 500 POSTS MAY BE REQUIRED DURING 1980-81.
+ THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDE FOR EXPENDITURE OF $101 MILLION FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, AN INCREASE OF 68 PER CENT OVER THE PROVISION IN THE 1979-80 APPROVED ESTIMATES ($60 MILLION),+ HE SAID.
DEFENCE
SIR PHILIP SAID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDED FOR EXPENDITURE OF $928 MILLION ON DEFENCE.
THESE INCLUDED (1979-80 APPROVED ESTIMATES IN BRACKETS) AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE $4 MILLION ($4 MILLION)- CIVIL AID SERVICES $10 MILLION ($8 MILLION), DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT $471 ($390 MILLION), ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE $31 MILLION ($7 MILLION, AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT $11 MILLION ($9 MILLION).
THE INCREASED
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