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Police will ensure the smooth running of the Equestrian Events later this year while at the same time maintaining effective day-to-day police service.
Secretary for Security Mr Ambrose S K Lee said today (April 1) that in view of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events, Police would adopt a multi-agency approach and an effective operational strategy to manage the equestrian events and develop appropriate contingency plans.
Mr Lee made the remarks at a special meeting of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council when he spoke on the $28.4 billion allocation on the security policy area group in the draft Estimates for 2008-09.
Mr Lee said that since the 9-11 incident, terrorist activities had, from time to time, occurred throughout the world.
"Facing the changing international security situation, Hong Kong should remain vigilant and get prepared and equipped for possible emergency situations by enhancing its anti-terrorist capability and resources, and maintaining a good grasp of the developing situation," he said.
"For this, the Police will provide additional manpower to set up a dedicated financial intelligence team for the fight against terrorist financing and the financing of weapons of mass destruction, as well as to enhance liaison, co-operation and intelligence exchange with the consular posts and officially recognised representatives in Hong Kong."
Noting that the Police would also provide additional front-line staff to strengthen the operational capability in new development areas, Mr Lee said. "These measures would not only provide greater protection to Hong Kong citizens in respect of personal safety, but will also increase the trust of the consular community as well as foreign investors and travellers in the security of the territory."
As for the $28.4 billion allocation on the security policy area group for 2008-2009, he said this represented 9.1% of total government expenditure. The two policy areas of Internal Security and Immigration Control would account for $24.7 billion.
The overall crime figure in 2007 registered a mild decrease of 0.4% while the violent crime figure slightly increased by 0.6% as compared with 2006. Despite the increase in the violent crime figure, falls were seen in the number of many serious crimes, including burglaries, blackmail, bank robberies, robberies as a whole and homicides.
"The law and order situation has remained stable but the Police will as always remain alert and vigilant, "he said.
Mr Lee said the Government was very concerned about the drug abuse problem, in particular psychotropic substance abuse among the youth.
He said: "Following in-depth studies of the problem over the past few months, the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse led by the Secretary of Justice has devised a series of initial measures that can be implemented in the short to medium term. This will account for about $53 million of additional expenditure in 2008-09."
"The Task Force will continue its deliberations in the coming months with a view to drawing up further proposals to tackle the problem in a long-term and sustainable manner," he said.
A territory-wide campaign will be launched in June to mobilise various sectors of the community to join the anti-drug cause. The Government will spare no efforts and will collaborate with various sectors of the community to combat drug trafficking and abuse with a multi-pronged approach.
Turning to immigration control and customs services, Mr Lee said the Government would continue to improve these services through the use of information technology, adding that the Immigration Department was preparing to extend the e-Channel facilities at the airport to frequent visitors on a trial basis from the second quarter of 2008.
He said Hong Kong had admitted more than 34,000 people through various relevant admission arrangements in 2007, marking an increase by nearly twofold over 2003.
Under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme introduced in October, 2003, a total of 1,963 applicants had been granted formal approval for residence in Hong Kong up to March 1, 2008. Their total investment amounted to about $13.95 billion, or on average $7.11 million per entrant which exceeded the minimum requisite amount of $6.5 million.
The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, which was introduced in June, 2006, had been adjusted in January this year following a review conducted in mid-2007. So far, 398 places had been allotted to applicants from a wide array of professions.
Ends/Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:19
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