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the Police and in particular why the Hawker Control Force has not had the $100 overall increase in pay that has recently been given to the Police, as in these times of disturbance the Hawker Control Force has had, in their own field, just the same difficulties as the Police Force?
(c) Is the Chairman satisfied that the present additional benefits such as quarters (or in most cases lack of quarters) are sufficient to attract the right type of men for this very important job which involves tact coupled with firmness and incorruptibility?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
In reply to the first part of the question, the establishment of the Force is 442 and its existing strength is 393 or, in other words, it is 49 men or roughly 11% under strength. Total recruitment during 1965, 1966 and 1967 was 139 and during the same period 92 men left the Force, the great majority on transfer to other departments, particularly the Police and Fire Services Departments or on resignation. During this 3-year period the Force therefore only increased by 47 men. The position is, however, not quite as discouraging as it sounds. The number of resignations and requests for transfer is now running at a lower level than before, and the number of applications to join the Force has risen as illustrated by the following figures. In 1967, 54 applicants were found to be suitable and were accepted by the Force compared with 42 in 1965, and 43 in 1966. Against this, 13 men left the Force in 1967 compared with 56 in 1965, and 23 in 1966. I should, however, say that 10 applications to transfer to the Police Force are at present under consideration, so that the final figure for men leaving the Force during 1967 will not be much lower than in 1966.
These figures are not encouraging. The position is even less encouraging if we take into account the large increase in the size of the Force which will be required if it is ever to take over from the Police all hawker control work in the urban area. The main reason why the Force is under strength is clearly that the salary offered to its members is unattractive when compared to that offered by other departments or by private firms, particularly taking into account the demanding nature of the work which is at best monotonous, at worst dangerous, and always unpopular.
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In reply to the second part of the question, the differential in pay to which you refer, Sir, reflects the importance which Government places on the role of the policeman in the community. Whilst it is acknowledged that the Hawker Control Force in its own field has experienced considerable difficulties during the past few months, Government considers that there can be no direct comparison between the role of the Hawker Control Force and that of the Police.
In reply to the last part of the question, the answer is, in short, that there are no additional benefits which are likely to attract men into the Hawker Control Force. Except for 3 senior N.C.O.s and their families, who are accommodated in old premises in Eastern Hospital Road, the Force is provided only with 190 bed-spaces in barrack accommodation.
An adjustment has recently been made in the maximum age for recruitment in order to widen the field, and it is possible that this will bring about a temporary improvement in the rate of recruitment. I do not believe that this, in itself, will be sufficient, and if a Hawker Control Force of adequate size and efficiency is to be built up something more will be required.
Strong representations have been made to the Colonial Secretary for the provision of quarters for the Force. In addition, discussions have already been held with the Establishment Branch about the conditions of service of the Force, and I hope to be discussing this further in the near future, with particular reference to promotion ratios.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for your excellent answer to my question which gives in full and very clearly the present position. I have one or two points as supplementaries. Is there any evidence that some of the men joining the Hawker Control Force are not really interested in the Hawker Control Force, but are joining it to get a chance to transfer to other departments including the Police later on?
CHAIRMAN:-I myself, Sir, have no direct evidence of this, but could deduce from the number of transfers that take place that there is something in what you say.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Another query is, you say that there are ten applications for transfer to the Police Force at present under consideration. In view of the fact that the Hawker Control Force is so under established, why is it that transfers are allowed, except in very special circumstances, to another disciplined force?
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the Police and in particular why the Hawker Control Force has not had the $100 overall increase in pay that has recently been given to the Police, as in these times of disturbance the Hawker Control Force has had, in their own field, just the same difficulties as the Police Force?
(c) Is the Chairman satisfied that the present additional benefits such as quarters (or in most cases lack of quarters) are sufficient to attract the right type of men for this very important job which involves tact coupled with firmness and incorruptibility?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
In reply to the first part of the question, the establishment of the Force is 442 and its existing strength is 393 or, in other words, it is 49 men or roughly 11% under strength. Total recruitment during 1965, 1966 and 1967 was 139 and during the same period 92 men left the Force, the great majority on transfer to other departments, par- ticularly the Police and Fire Services Departments or on resignation. During this 3-year period the Force there- fore only increased by 47 men. The position is, how- ever, not quite as discouraging as it sounds. The number of resignations and requests for transfer is now running at a lower level than before, and the number of applications to join the Force has risen as illustrated by the following figures. In 1967, 54 applicants were found to be suitable and were accepted by the Force compared with 42 in 1965, and 43 in 1966. Against this, 13 men left the Force in 1967 compared with 56 in 1965, and 23 in 1966. I should, however, say that 10 applications to transfer to the Police Force are at present under consideration, so that the final figure for men leaving the Force during 1967 will not be much lower than in 1966.
These figures are not encouraging. The position is even less encouraging if we take into account the large increase in the size of the Force which will be required if it is ever to take over from the Police all hawker control work in the urban area. The main reason why the Force is under strength is clearly that the salary offered to its members is unattractive when compared to that offered by other departments or by private firms, particularly taking into account the demanding nature of the work which is at best monotonous, at worst dangerous, and always un- popular.
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359
In reply to the second part of the question, the differential in pay to which you refer, Sir, reflects the importance which Government places on the role of the policeman in the community. Whilst it is acknowledged that the Hawker Control Force in its own field has experienced consider- able difficulties during the past few months, Government considers that there can be no direct comparison between the role of the Hawker Control Force and that of the Police.
In reply to the last part of the question, the answer is, in short, that there are no additional benefits which are likely to attract men into the Hawker Control Force. Except for 3 senior N.C.O.s and their families, who are accom- modated in old premises in Eastern Hospital Road, the Force is provided only with 190 bed-spaces in barrack accommodation.
An adjustment has recently been made in the maximum age for recruitment in order to widen the field, and it is possible that this will bring about a temporary improve- ment in the rate of recruitment. I do not believe that this, in itself, will be sufficient, and if a Hawker Control Force of adequate size and efficiency is to be built up something more will be required.
Strong representations have been made to the Colonial Secretary for the provision of quarters for the Force. In addition, discussions have already been held with the Establishment Branch about the conditions of service of the Force, and I hope to be discussing this further in the near future, with particular reference to promotion ratios. MR. BERNACCHI:-Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for your excellent answer to my question which gives in full and very clearly the present position. I have one or two points as supplementaries. Is there any evidence that some of the men joining the Hawker Control Force are not really interested in the Hawker Control Force, but are joining it to get a chance to transfer to other departments including the Police later on?
CHAIRMAN:-I myself, Sir, have no direct evidence of this, but could deduce from the number of transfers that take place that there is something in what you say.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Another query is, you say that there are ten applications for transfer to the Police Force at present under considera- tion. In view of the fact that the Hawker Control Force is so under established, why is it that transfers are allowed, except in very special circumstances, to another disciplined force?
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