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The workload of the Hong Kong Police Force is getting heavier with higher public expectations, but the Police has been able to actively implement the Enhanced Productivity Programme (EPP), the Secretary for the Treasury, Miss Denise Yue, said.

Speaking at a passing-out parade today (Saturday) at the Police Training School, Miss Yue said that over the past few years, the Police had been constantly streamlining their organisation and procedures in a bid to achieve better use of resources and value for money so as to improve productivity but, at the same time, without reducing resources for front-line operations in order to maintain law and order.

It was important to bear in mind that the EPP was not a post cutting exercise but should rather be seen as an educational process aimed at teaching force members in the "Asia's Finest" to live within their means while simultaneously impressing their sevices to the community, she added.

Miss Yue said: "The Police Force has over the years won the trust of the community through its excellent performance in fighting crime and upholding justice.

"Good social order, a stable investment environment, an independent judiciary and rigorous enforcement of the laws by law enforcement agencies are indispensable for Hong Kong to maintain its status as a leading business and trade centre, a world-class financial centre as well as a cosmopolitan city."

She was confident that the Police Force would continue to strive for the best and would be ready to face greater challenges ahead.

A total of 23 probationary inspectors and 122 police constables graduated today.

Police Report No.3

Issued by PPRB

End/1230 hrs, Saturday, April 1, 2000 (MC/CTH)

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