XN000022-1985-10-30 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1985

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+LOCAL ISATION CONTINUES TO BEAR FRUIT+

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LOCAL OFFICERS IN INCREASING NUMBERS ARE TAKING UP SENIOR POSITIONS, AND THE PROPORTION OF LOCAL OFFICERS IN THE DIRECTORATE HAS CLIMBED FROM 31 PER CENT IN 1976 TO 50 PER CENT IN 1985, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+THE LOCAL ISATION POLICY WHICH HAS BEEN PURSUED SINCE THE 1960'S CONTINUES TO BEAR FRUIT.

+WE SHALL CONTINUE WITH LOCAL ISATION, TAKING CARE TO ENSURE, HOWEVER, THAT EFFICIENCY AND MORALE ARE NOT JEOPARDISED.

+THERE IS NOW A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE AND GROWING POOL OF LOCAL TALENT AT MIDDLE AND SENIOR LEVELS, FOR US TO BE CONFIDENT THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO FILL TOP POSTS WITH LOCAL PEOPLE, IN TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, BEFORE 1997, + SIR EDWARD SAID, ADDING THAT THERE WOULD STILL BE A PLACE FOR OVERSEAS OFFICERS, WHOSE SERVICES WERE HIGHLY VALUED.

+ THE IR EMPLOYMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT AFTER 1997 IS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE POLICE FORCE, SIR EDWARD SAID HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE EFFICIENT AND DEDICATED POLICE FORCE TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER DURING AND BEYOND THE TRANSITION OF THE TERRITORY TO A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.

+HAVING REGARD TO THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FORCE MUST UNDERGO SOME CHANGES, AMONG OTHER THINGS IN THE STAFFING OF THE SENIOR RANKS.

+WE FORESEE A VALUABLE ROLE FOR EXPATRIATE POLICE OFFICERS= THE FORCE MUST NEVERTHELESS ACHIEVE LOCALISATION AT A FASTER PACE THAN HITHERTO.

+AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST NOT JEOPARDISE THE FORCE'S EFFICIENCY, NOR ENDANGER ITS HIGH LEVEL OF MORALE, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD SAID HE EXPECTED SOON TO RECEIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW SUCH OBJECTIVES COULD BEST BE ACHIEVED, FROM A STEERING GROUP COMPRISING THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE.

+ IN THE MEANTIME, THE FORCE AND ITS RESOURCES ARE BEING CONTINUALLY MODERNISED TO MEET CHANGING POLICING REQUIREMENTS, + HE SAID.

WORK WOULD START ON THE BUILDING OF A NEW HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX IN THE COMING YEAR WHILE THE FLEET OF DIVISIONAL PATROL CRAFT WOULD REACH FULL STRENGTH IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR WHEN THE MARINE POLICE TAKE DELIVERY OF THEIR LAST NEW CRAFT IN AN ORDER OF 15.

SPEAKING OF