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Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (February 11):
Question:
Some police officers at the rank-and-file level have relayed to me that due to a shortfall of departmental quarters (DQ), their waiting time for quarters is getting longer and longer. On the other hand, during the Occupy Central movement, since many police officers had to be on duty for long hours around-the-clock, it was difficult for them to return to their quarters for a rest. Moreover, they have pointed out that while their entry pay point is higher than those of general clerical posts in the Government, clerical staff get promotions and pay increments faster than they do after joining the Civil Service, and the pay gap between the two shrinks with the increase in years of service. Regarding improvements to the salary and fringe benefits of police officers, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) has assessed and reviewed the situation of police officers (particularly those at the rank-and-file level) having to wait for a long time for quarters due to the shortfall of DQ; if it has, of the outcome; the average and the longest waiting times for DQ at present; if not, whether it can conduct such an assessment and review immediately;
(2) given that during such time when police officers are handling unexpected incidents which last for a long period of time, it is difficult for them to return to their quarters which are far from their work locations for a rest, whether the authorities will consider, when constructing DQ in future, siting such quarters in the vicinity of police stations or operational planning locations (such as the Police Training School in Wong Chuk Hang) as far as possible, with a view to saving the time required for police officers to travel to and from the quarters, and affording them more rest time after work; and
(3) whether CSB is concerned about and has conducted a review of the aforesaid pay gap, and explored ways to maintain the gap between the remuneration packages of police officers at the rank-and-file level and those of clerical staff; if it has, of the outcome; if not, whether it can expeditiously conduct such a review?
Reply:
President,
In response to the Hon Paul Tse's question, our reply is as follows:
(1) It is the Government's established policy to provide departmental quarters (DQs) to married disciplined services staff, subject to the availability of resources. The waiting time of DQs is affected by a number of factors, including the department's recruitment plans, the retirement situation of staff, marriage rate, the number of eligible staff, their housing preferences and whether they would claim the other housing benefit schemes, etc. The average waiting time of DQs of Police staff at the officer level is around one year from the time they are eligible to apply for DQs. Police staff at the rank-and-file level are subject to relatively higher demand for DQs and their average waiting time is around four years.
In order to alleviate the shortfall of DQs, the Chief Executive announced in the 2014 Policy Address that the Government will expedite eight DQ projects for disciplined services departments (DSDs), aiming at providing more than 2 200 units by 2020. The distribution of DQs amongst DSDs will be subject to factors including the demand situation. Concerned departments will continue to closely keep in view the demand situation of DQs.
(2) As regards the identification of sites, DSDs will consider factors including the future demand and supply of DQs, operational needs, transportation facilities, community environment and others, and discuss with the Planning Department in search of suitable sites for the development of DQs.
For example, among the eight DQ projects of the 2014 Policy Address, the Police's "Junior Police Officers Married Quarters at Fan Garden" is in the vicinity of the Sheung Shui Police Station as well as Sheung Shui and Fanling train stations. Bus and minibus stops are also located nearby, which would facilitate the travelling to and from the quarters by Police officers.
(3) The Civil Service Bureau has, through various channels, explained to the relevant Police officers' associations that direct comparisons between the pay of the Police and other civil service grades may not be drawn. Relevant independent advisory or review committees have, at different junctures, reviewed this issue and drew the same conclusion. In particular, the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service clearly pointed out in the "Report on the Grade Structure Review of the Disciplined Services" completed in 2008 that, in view of the uniqueness of the role and nature of duties of the Police, the pay of the Police may not be determined by making comparisons with specific grades in the civil service.
The Government agrees with the views of the relevant committees and considers that the pay structure of the Junior Police Officer (JPO) grade may not be determined or altered by comparing it with the pay structure of other civil service grades (such as the Clerical Officer (CO) grade). In fact, because of the differences in their role and nature of duties, the pay structure, career progression, pay scales and fringe benefits of the JPO and CO grades are different. For instance, staff at the Police Constable rank of the JPO grade are eligible for four incremental jumps and four long service increments. Besides, the housing benefits, retirement benefits and other allowances of the two grades also differ. As such, comparing the remuneration packages of the two grades would be difficult.
Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:38
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