TNAG-1723-FCO40-2436-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 138

Question No. 5

сего

Government loan facilities and indebtedness of police officers

a question

Reply by the Seczetary for Securit;

by Dr. the fear DI, Daniel "SZ, OBE, JR

e begislative Couneil on 12

Council on 13 January 1988

5. Dr. TSE asked (in Cantonese):

Question

Will Government inform this Council what loan funds are available to Police officers through government sources; whether there is still ány problem of Police officers being indebted to unlawful money-lenders since the introduction of these funds and, if so, what measures are being taken to deal with this problem?

le

Reply

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY:

sir,<

the

government provides a number of loan facilities for civil servants, including police officers. Loans are available, subject to the applicants meeting certain criteria, to purchase propertrich buying

to meet rent deposits required by landlords; and to help buy a car. Also, police officers and other civil servants may apply for an interest-free advance of

salary for a variety of purposes, for example to help with their children's education overseas; to defray the costs of

any domestic calamity or serious illness, or of the death of

an officer. The Secretary for the Civil Service has a general discretion to approve an advance of salary in exceptional circumstances not otherwise provided for.

In addition, the Police Force Welfare Fund provides interest-free loans to police officers under four main

categories: education; medical; home removal; and

miscellaneous, which may cover such items as relief for fire,

typhoon and flood victims, purchase of essential household equipment and furniture, home repair, and funeral expenses.