Chief Dick Lee says trimming budget further could affect frontline officers and undermine public confidence
The police force will have trouble cutting its budget further in the next financial year, and its pledge to minimise the impact on frontline officers and the public might be compromised, the commissioner has warned.
Security 'is expensive, but important', Police Commissioner Dick Lee Ming-kwai said, and how to strike the balance was a political decision the government would have to make.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, the police chief also revealed plans to cut 200 posts from the marine police in an overhaul to save money and modernise water policing.
The force has slashed 2,500 civilian and disciplinary posts and saved about $1.1 billion since the government launched its efficiency drive in 2000. Most of the savings have been through the streamlining of management and procedures and cutting non-frontline posts.
The force, with a budget of $11.5 billion and 27,175 officers, is required to continue to cut its budget by 2.5 per cent a year until 2008-09.
'We'll start having difficulties in 2005-06. We still need to assess clearly the impact of some changes if they are implemented,' Mr Lee said.
