TNAG-1854-FCO40-2629-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 83

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 15 February 1989

香港立法局

一九八九年二月十五日

28

The recruitment target for the fiscal year 88-89 has been set at 2 535 officers, to cope with expansion needs, taking into account the capacity constraints of the Police Training School. The target is 225 inspectors and 2 310 constables, and represents an increase of 12.5% for inspectors and 50% for constables compared with last year's levels. For inspectors the required numbers are expected to be met, but for constables there may be a shortfall of over 100, or 4% of the recruitment target. Applications to join the force increased during 1988 due to stepped up publicity and recruiting efforts. There are currently six qualified applicants for each vacancy.

The current wastage and recruitment situation does not compare unfavourably with other disciplined services and the Civil Service as a whole, but we shall be watching the situation very carefully over the months ahead, both in the light of the present tight labour market, and the effect of the new pay awards on recruitment, which have yet to be seen. Meanwhile, vacancy figures remain constant and police operational tasks are not being affected.

MISS LEUNG: Sir, will the Secretary inform this Council whether steps are being taken to reduce the wastage rate, in particular at the inspectorate level which worked out to be around 12.3% in 1988 according to the Secretary's reply, in addition to the implementation of the new pay awards?

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Sir, within the police force, steps are being taken to reduce the wastage rate on a personnel basis. Outside the police force, the Rennie Report, which has just been completed, is of course a government response to a situation which suggested that pay and conditions of service within the police force and indeed within the disciplined services needed review. Until we have seen the beneficial effects or otherwise of the Rennie Report, and I have every reason to believe that they will be beneficial, I think it will be premature to talk about taking any further steps.

鄭德健議員問:政府會否改善警務人員的服務條件以減少人員流失人數及加強招募能力?政府在 這方面有何具體措施和計劃?

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Sir, I think I have answered that question in my answer to the previous supplementary.