XN000022-1990-02-07 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990

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"TO PROVIDE SUCH DATA WOULD ENTAIL A DETAILED AND LABOUR INTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUAL DUTY RECORDS IN RESPECT OF NEARLY 1,000 BEATS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

"HOWEVER, AN APPROXIMATE CURRENT FIGURE OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS DEPLOYED FOR NORMAL BEAT DUTIES IN A PERIOD OF 24 HOURS IS 2,600, HE SAID.

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MR BARNES ADDED THAT THE FREQUENCY OF BEAT PATROLS WAS DETERMINED ON A DIVISIONAL BASIS HAVING REGARD TO COMMUNITY POLICING NEEDS AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

"THERE IS, THEREFORE, NO OVERALL STANDARD FREQUENCY, WHICH IS DETERMINED BY LOCATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES.

"HOWEVER, A RECENT SURVEY INDICATES THAT, ON AVERAGE, EVERY BEAT IS COVERED MORE THAN ONCE DURING EVERY 24-HOUR PERIOD," HE NOTED.

MR BARNES REITERATED THAT THE OVERALL CRIME LEVEL HAD REMAINED STABLE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

"AS I NOTED IN THIS COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 18, 1989, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS ON VBP DETENTION DUTIES, HE SAID.

VIGOROUS CONTROL OVER TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT WITH THE DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, VIGOROUS CONTROL WOULD HAVE TO BE EXERCISED OVER TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

"WE NEED ALSO TO ADJUST SUITABLY THE PRIORITIES OF OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND ΤΟ RESTRAIN THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TO SOME, SIR PIERS SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH.

"IN DOING SO WE SHALL ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ARE WELL LOOKED AFTER AND THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT ADVERSELY AFFECTED."

SIR PIERS POINTED OUT THAT DURING THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, ON THE GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS, HE HAD ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY HAD BEEN MADE AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF ITS FULL IMPLICATION ON OUR FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL AND

HUMAN RESOURCES.

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