Hundreds more officers to strengthen police force

Hundreds more officers to strengthen police force

Timmy Sung reports

The police are expected to add an extra 2,543 posts to their 35,000-strong force in the next financial year to “strengthen operational capability”, according to the city's latest budget.



The total funding to be allocated to the force will reach HK$25.8 billion, up 25 percent from the previous year.



Around 45 percent of the new officers will be tasked with helping to “maintain law and order in the community”, while more than 400 new posts are to be created to “prevent and detect crime”.



The financial blueprint also reveals that the force spent 15 percent more than originally planned on maintaining law and order over the previous year, amid the months of anti-government protests.



The force's new budget for specialist supplies and equipment, which includes weapons, ammunition, shields, and protective gear for officers, is to almost treble to HK$612 million, while the police hope to spend almost HK$77 million on replacing six armoured vehicles.



Financial Secretary Paul Chan also said in his budget speech on Wednesday that he is earmarking HK$450 million to the Department of Justice so it can “strengthen” Hongkongers’ understanding of the concept of the rule of law and its implementation.



Chan noted that respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are important for the SAR’s success.