XN000022-1988-06-15 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988

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STABLE PATTERN IN EARLY RETIREMENTS FROM POLICE

* * * * *

THE FIGURES INDICATING THE SCALE AND PATTERN OF EARLY RETIREMENTS FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE HAVE BEEN STABLE AT A LOW LEVEL OVER RECENT YEARS AND ARE NOT A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR BARNES GAVE FIGURES ON EARLY RETIREMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS FROM THE POLICE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

MR BARNES NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN 106 EARLY RETIREMENTS IN 1983, 70 IN 1984, 79 IN 1985, 46 IN 1986, 75 IN 1987 AND 27 SO FAR THIS YEAR.

THE FIGURES FOR EARLY RETIREMENTS OF JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH CONSTITUTED THE MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL NUMBER, WERE: 96 IN 1983, 61 IN 1984, 72 IN 1985, 37 IN 1986, 66 IN 1987 AND 26 SO FAR THIS YEAR.

INCREASE

AS FOR RESIGNATIONS, MR BARNES SAID THERE HAD BEEN AN IN RESPECT OF INSPECTORS AND JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS IN 1987 AND THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

THE FIGURES FOR INSPECTORATE OFFICERS WHO HAD RESIGNED FROM 1983 TO 1988 (UP TO MAY) WERE: 27 IN 1983, 29 IN 1984, 20 IN 1985,

19 IN 1986, 38 IN 1987 AND 14 THIS YEAR.

THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS WERE: 293, 220, 209, 222, 312 AND 228.

"I AM SATISFIED, HOWEVER, THAT ALTHOUGH THIS TREND MUST BE WATCHED CLOSELY, THESE RESIGNATIONS HAVE NOT SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE EXPANSION PLANS DESIGNED ΤΟ ENABLE THE POLICE TO RESUME THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION DUTIES AT PRESENT UNDERTAKEN BY THE BRITISH GARRISON, MR BARNES SAID.

"RECRUITMENT WILL OF COURSE PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THIS EXPANSION BUT I AM INFORMED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE THAT RECRUITMENT TARGETS ARE BEING MET WITHOUT REDUCING STANDARDS, THAT BOTH WASTAGE RATES AND RECRUITMENT ARE MATTERS UNDER CLOSE AND CONSTANT SCRUTINY," HE ADDED.

AND

WHICH ARE

KEPT

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