XN000022-1997-03-12 — Page 49

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Extra 600 police officers on front-line duties

The Government will ensure that Hong Kong's excellent Police Force continues to provide a secure environment for the community, said the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang.

Mr Tsang said that in 1997/98, an additional 600 police officers would be put on front-line operational duties.

The extra officers will staff the new police districts at Chek Lap Kok and North Lantau, patrol roads and highways across the territory and strengthen the Crime Wing Headquarters.

He said almost $70 million would be spent on computers, enhanced communication systems and new high-speed, anti-smuggling boats, all of which will help officers do their jobs even more efficiently.

Mr Tsang said Hong Kong was fortunate to be one of the few places in the world where the crime rate had gone down the 1996 crime rate being 19 per cent lower than that for 1991.

"Even more reassuring, the rate of violent crime was 29 per cent lower. This makes us a much safer place to live and work than other major cities like London, New York, Tokyo or Toronto," said Mr Tsang in his annual Budget address to the Legislative Council today (Wednesday).

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$15.1 billion surplus for 96/97 forecast

A surplus of $15.1 billion for 1996/97 is forecast, the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, told the Legislative Council today (Wednesday) when reviewing Hong Kong's public finances in his Budget speech.

"This is a substantial increase over the $1.6 billion I originally estimated in my 1996 Budget. Revenue for the year is $6.6 billion more than originally estimated, while underspending amounts to $6.9 billion," said Mr Tsang.

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