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The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose SK Lee, said today (March 30) that the departments under his purview would continue to ensure that Hong Kong remained a secure and safe city even with slightly lower provisions for the coming financial year (2004/2005).

Mr Lee made the above remarks at the Legislative Council Special Finance Committee meeting to examine the Estimates for 2004/2005.

"The allocation of $27 billion on the security policy area group represents 9.5% of the total public expenditure," he said.

"The two policy areas of Internal Security and Immigration under my responsibility will account for $23.5 billion, which is 2.9% lower than the allocation of $24.2 billion for the current financial year," he added.

Mr Lee stressed that the departments' essential services would not be affected as they strived to meet all performance targets that they had pledged to the public.

"With our more efficient and flexible plan in deploying our resources, we will make use of the savings from our streamlined operation to introduce new or enhanced services," he said.

On law and order, Mr Lee said the Police Force would have a net reduction of 658 posts, most of which were for support and administrative work. On the other hand, about 90 posts would be created to strengthen frontline operational capability.

"We will continue to improve conditions at our boundary crossings to facilitate the flow of passengers, vehicles and goods between Hong Kong and the Mainland through various means including flexible redeployment of staff, streamlining of procedures, improvement works and use of technology," said Mr Lee.

He added that a pilot scheme for a facial recognition system at the control points would be introduced later this year to verify the identity of suspect arrivals and immigration offenders. The automated passenger clearance and automated vehicle clearance systems would also be rolled out at end-2004 in phases.

Regarding the Individual Visit Scheme, Mr Lee said it would be extended to the whole of Guangdong by May this year. In 2004-2005, about 150 new recruits will be posted to control points to cope with the increase in the number of visitors.

In July and October 2003, the Admission of Mainland Talents and Professionals Scheme and the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme were implemented respectively.

"A total of 2,427 applications have been received from Mainland talents and professionals out of which 1,952 had been approved up until end-February. Separately, 39 applicants have been granted formal approval for residence in Hong Kong under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme. Their total investment in Hong Kong amounts to some $290.6 million, or on average $7.45 million per entrant which exceeds the minimum requisite amount of $6.5 million," he added.

To meet new service requirements, the Secretary said new fire stations/ambulance depots would be commissioned through flexible redeployment of resources.

He added that a replacement fireboat would be commissioned in December 2004 to strengthen fire fighting and rescue capabilities in the coastal waters.

"On the emergency ambulance side, we will continue to extend paramedic ambulance services to all ambulances in phases, with a view to achieving full implementation by the first quarter of 2005.

"We have earmarked $45 million for the procurement and replacement of fire appliances, ambulances and equipment to enhance our rescue capability and training facilities."

As regards efforts on the rehabilitation of offenders, Mr Lee said the Correctional Services Department had launched a three-year publicity campaign starting from 2003-2004 to promote community support for rehabilitated offenders, with a provision of $4.8 million drawn from the department's savings.

Turning to the campaign against drug abuse, Mr Lee said the campaign would be further bolstered through the launch of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre this year. Upon its opening in June, the exhibition centre, the first in Hong Kong dedicated to drug information, would become a focal point for the territory's drug prevention education activities.

"We will continue to improve our treatment and rehabilitation services to drug abusers through implementing the Third Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong (2003-2005) and monitoring the progress of the licensing scheme for drug treatment centres," Mr Lee said.

On enhancement of the anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing regime, Mr Lee said domestically the revised Forty Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) would be put in place.

"On the international front, we will continue to contribute towards the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing through active participation in the work of FATF and the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering," he added.

Ends/Tuesday, March 30, 2004

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