XN000022-1992-03-05 — Page 18

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1992

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EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO IMPROVE PAY AND SERVICE CONDITIONS OF POLICEMEN

THE POLICE MANAGEMENT IS WELL AWARE OF JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS' ASPIRATIONS FOR BETTER PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO IMPROVE THEM, ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR LI KWAN-HA.

SPEAKING AT A SPRING RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, MR LI (WHO IS PRESENTLY ON LEAVE) SAID TWO NEW JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS QUARTERS WERE BEING BUILT- ONE IN TSING YI FOR 288 UNITS AND THE OTHER IN FANLING FOR 408 UNITS.

THE TSING YI PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO COMPLETE BY LATE 1993 AND THE FANLING UNITS IN 1994.

"THE MAINTENANCE OF GOOD MORALE IS ESSENTIAL AND THE ASSOCIATION CAN BE ASSURED OF MY FULLEST SUPPORT IN THIS REGARD.

"THE QUESTION OF IMPROVEMENT TO PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ESPECIALLY FOR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS IS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEM," MR LI SAID.

THE

THE COMMISSIONER NOTED THAT PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE REMUNERATION OF JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS WERE PRESENTLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION,

"I AM OF COURSE AWARE OF THE WISH OF OFFICERS REDUCTION IN THE 51-HOUR WORKING WEEK,

ΤΟ SECURE SOME

"THERE ARE OBVIOUS PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE PROPOSAL AND THE SUBJECT IS BEING EXAMINED," MR LI SAID.

HE CAUTIONED, HOWEVER, THAT AN EARLY SOLUTION TO THIS PROPOSAL WAS UNLIKELY.

MR LI PRAISED JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS, THE FORCE'S FRONT-LINE TROOPS, FOR HAVING PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME AND PRESERVED CONFIDENCE IN THE FORCE.

DESPITE INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE FORCE, NOTABLY WITH REGARD TO CRIME AND SMUGGLING AND ADDITONAL DUTIES, MR LI SAID OFFICERS HAD RESPONDED WELL AND FACED THESE CHALLENGES REALISTICALLY.

WITH THE FORTHCOMING CHANGE IN SOVEREIGNTY, MR LI SAID THE PUBLIC WOULD BE LOOKING TO THE POLICE IN PARTICULAR FOR STABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS AND PROFESSIONALISM.

"I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE FORCE WILL MEET ALL DEMANDS IN A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER, MR LI SAID.

...

EARLIER IN THE RECEPTION, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, MR TSUI WAI-CHUN, SAID THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASINGLY CRUCIAL NEED FOR POLICE SERVICE IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

/MR TSUI