TNAG-0550-FCO40-645-Allegations-of-corruption-and-bribery-in-Hong-Kong-police-an-1975 — Page 122

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IMMEDIATE

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FM HONG KONG 1707 402

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

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TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 154 OF 17 FEBRUARY INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (FCO PLEASE PASS).

YOUR TELEGRAM 124:

LAST

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PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS.

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SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING REPLIES TO SIR PAUL BRYAN'S QUESTIONS &

(A) SINCE MID-1973, OVER 1,500 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES (MACS) HAVE BEEN FORMED. MOST ARE IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS AND ABOUT TEN PER CENT IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES. MORE WILL BE FORMED AS RESOURCES PERMIT. MACS AIM TO IMPROVE COOPERATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS, WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO CLEANLINESS AND SECURITY OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS. MACS HAVE INSTALLED BURGLAR ALARMS, SECURITY GATES, INTERCOM SYSTEMS AND CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND EMPLOYED WATCHMEN AND THUS IMPROVED THE PHYSICAL SECURITY OF THEIR BUILDINGS. SOME MACS IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAVE SET UP ORGANIZED NEIGHBOURHOOD SECURITY PATROLS WHICH MAINTAIN CLOSE LIAISON WITH THE POLICE AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES. THESE MEASURES HAVE LED TO A REDUCTION IN THE INCIDENCE OF CRIMES IN BUILDINGS WHERE MACS EXIST AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

(B) THE EFFECTIVE STRENGTH OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE HAS BEEN INCREASED

(I) BY THE INTRODUCTION OF A CIVILIANISATION PROGRAMME INVOLVING 934 POSTS. OF THESE, 256 POSTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILLED BY CIVILIANS (INCLUDING 93 TRAFFIC WARDENS ON A TRIAL BASIS): 92 POSTS HAVE BEEN. FORMALLY APPROVED FOR CIVILIANISATION BUT NOT YET FILLED: 400 POSTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROCESSED FOR CIVILIANISATION OR TRANSFER TO OTHER AGENCIES AND 186 POSTS ARE STILL BEING EXAMINED:

(11) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE WAS INCREASED FROM 6,000 TO 7,000 IN AUGUST 1973. THE CURRENT STRENGTH IS OVER 6,750. THERE IS AN AVERAGE DAILY TURNOUT OF ABOUT 1,700 AUXILIARIES,

(C) (1) ON 1ST JANUARY 1973 - ESTABLISHMENT 14,816: STRENGTH 12,199: VACANCIES 2,617.

(II) ON 1ST JANUARY 1974 ESTABLISHMENT 16,025: STRENGTH 12,487. VACANCIES 3,538.

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