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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1980,
MR DAVIES REVEALED THAT PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATES OF THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR TO:
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ENABLE THE POLICE TO RECRUIT 900 MORE OFFICERS TO ASSIST THE FORCE TO MEET ITS COMMITMENTS IN THE EXPANDING URBAN AREAS, MAINTAIN ITS CONTRIBUTION ON THE BORDER AND ON THE FLANKS AS WELL AS AT SEA-
MEET HONG KONG'S SHARE OF THE COST OF THE EXISTING GARRISON OF FOUR INFANTRY BATTALIONS, THE RAF WESSEX SQUADRON AND THE FIVE RN PATROL CRAFT AS WELL AS AN INSTALMENT OF HONG KONG'S SHARE OF THE COST OF THE IR REPLACEMENT=
PROVIDE FOR REINFORCEMENTS BY ADDITIONAL RIFLE COMPANIES AND THIS MONTH THERE ARE FIVE SUCH COMPANIES HERE A SMALL RM RAIDING SQUADRON, TWO HOVERCRAFT, A FAST PATROL BOAT AND ADDITIONAL HELICOPTERS=
* FINANCE THE COST OF NINE NEW SECTOR PATROL CRAFT AND CREWS FOR THE MARINE POLICE- THE FIRST THREE LAUNCHES WILL BE AVAILABLE BY EARLY NEXT MONTH-
* RE-EQUIP THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE WITH THREE DAUPHIN
TWIN-ENGINED HELICOPTERS TO REPLACE THE ALLOUETTES, AND
* CONSTRUCT AN ILLUMINATED CHAIN LINK BORDER FENCE 22 KMS
LONG AND FIVE METRES HIGH FROM SHA TAU KOK TO LOK MA CHAU. THIS WILL BE COMPLETED BY JUNE AND WILL BE REINFORCED BY WATCH TOWERS WHERE NECESSARY. PLANS TO EXTEND THE FENCE THE FURTHER 13 KMS TO TSIM BEI TSUI ARE ALSO WELL ADVANCED.
MR DAVIES SAID THE TWO MAIN PRIORITIES FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OPERATIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS AT THIS STAGE WILL BE THE MARINE POLICE AND THE RE-EQUIPMENT OF THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE WITH BIGGER HELICOPTERS.
+ACCORDINGLY PROPOSALS ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL REPLACEMENT AND EXPANSION PROGRAMME FOR THE MARINE POLICE FLEET. IN ADDITION URGENT STUDIES ARE BEING PURSUED TO PROVIDE IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND RADAR. DAUPHIN HELICOPTERS WILL BE IN SERVICE IN AUGUST.+
AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE GARRISON'S SIZE AND COMPOSITION WAS IN PROGRESS AND DISCUSSIONS ON ITS EXPANSION AND ITS COST ARE PROCEEDING WITH THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE.
ON THE CALL FOR RECONSIDERING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY UNDER WHICH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO EVADE ARREST ARE AT PRESENT PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG, MR DAVIES SAID THE ADVANTAGES OF ANY CHANGE IN POLICY MUST BE WEIGHED AGAINST THE POSSIBLE DISADVANTAGES. +THESE WOULD INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE POSSIBLE NEED TO TRANSFER MAN POWER AND RESOURCES FROM OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW POLICY AND THE EFFECTS OF A CHANGE OF POLICY ON LAW AND ORDER GENERALLY.
+A NEW POLICY INVOLVING THE RETURN OF EVADERS RAISES MAJOR ISSUES WHICH ARE ALREADY BEING DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC. OBVIOUSLY THIS POLICY, LIKE ALL OTHER IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND OPERATION DEPLOYMENTS AND PLANS, IS KEPT UNDER REVIEW BY THE ADMINISTRATION, + HE SAID.