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 Taking advantage of what the system has to offer. Traffic NTS Station Sergeant Ng Tok-yiu and his wife acquired their own flat in Wang Tau Hom through the Home Purchase Scheme |
IT is Government policy to forbid an officer (or
spouse) to receive more than one housing benefit simultaneously, irrespective of such benefits
being provided by the Government or private employers. Details of these rules are set out in Civil
Service Regulations 809.
Following a review of the seven disciplined forces in 1996, the Director of Audit discovered that many disciplined staff including police officers occupying departmental quarters failed to comply with these rules. The most common breaches being receipt of civil service housing benefits and public housing benefits by officers (or spouse) at the same time. Since 1997, Force management has taken proactive measures to tackle this problem. One of the measures is to conduct an annual check with the Director of Housing to ensure the existing occupants of police quarters are eligible for departmental quarters. In addition, records of successful applicants and their spouses must be cleared with the Housing Department before formal allocations of quarters will be made to them after each allocation exercise. | |
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The Quarters Office Automation System now interfaces with the Personnel Information Communal System (PICS) and as a result the quartering records of both JPO and Inspectorate officers are routinely updated and uploaded into PICS after each allocation exercise. Any change of an officer's personal particulars can now be effectively recorded by the Police Quartering Division through PICS for better management of quartering matters. A suspected breach of the rules against double housing benefits or other quartering rules will be investigated. Where an officer has knowingly contravened these rules, appropriate action including criminal, civil and disciplinary proceedings will be taken against the officer concerned. Formal disciplinary actions were taken against nine officers in 1997. These actions include six defaulter proceedings, two minor offence reports and one written warning. When compared with 1996 when only two officers were given disciplinary sanction, it is evident that the new measures have effectively detected deliberate breaches of the rules. Officers are therefore reminded of the importance to strictly comply with the rules and the serious consequence of non-compliance. | ||
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JPO housing benefits
In line with this housing policy, Force management has directed an education and publicity programme of JPO housing benefits to raise officers' awareness of existing housing benefits and schemes available to them as early in their careers as possible which can assist them in acquiring permanent homes. A new booklet introducing all forms of housing benefits available to JPOs is being distributed this month. A poster promoting the programme has also been produced. The booklet explains essential rules in three areas: Civil service housing benefits; public housing benefits via the general waiting list; and the prevention of double housing benefits. Contents of the booklet will be updated and distributed every year. |
| Resourceful Marines | |
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LAST month, RC Marine, Foo Tsun-kong, officially
opened the Regional Resource Centre at Marine Regional Headquarters in Sai Wan Ho.
The Regional Commander explained that the room was originally designated as the Regional Library but had been left dormant since Marine Regional Headquarters moved to Sai Wan Ho in October 1996. "We wanted to make optimum use of the space, so ideas were floated around Marine Headquarters and it was decided to turn the room into a resource centre," said Mr Foo. |
 RC Marine Foo Tsun-kong: "The service quality provided by Regional Headquarters has improved significantly with the centre's completion" |
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The facilities of the centre now include a collection of Marine-related books, maps and charts, magazines and videos on the operation of specific equipment, as well as a big screen TV, video player and data projector for powerpoint presentations. The centre's computer is linked to the Internet for research purposes, and future plans include the installation of a Force Reference Material terminal to assist those wishing to find a quiet retreat to study, carry out research, or meet in small discussion groups in the comfortable and informal atmosphere of the centre - which is open to all members of the Region. Said Mr Foo: "The service quality provided by Regional Headquarters has improved significantly with the centre's completion and affects internal customers as well as those external customers who may come to visit from other Government Departments or commercial businesses." Regional Commander Foo said that the project was made successful by the interest and enthusiasm shown by all officers, and gave special thanks to Acting Chief Inspector Kevin Fisher in Support Bureau who initiated the project, then co-ordinated the necessary work and acquisitions. Mr Foo also thanked staff who volunteered their time to do the heavy work and repaint the walls. Since the Resource Centre has been up and running, it has been well used. "The feedback from all users has been very positive," said Acting CIP Fisher. "It's very satisfying to have been involved in the plan, then developing it through to the end and seeing the impact it has made." | |
| Auxy Ball | |
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OVER 400 guests attended the Auxiliary Police
Annual Ball 1998 held on 15 May at the Conrad Hotel.
Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and his wife attended for the first time and were welcomed by the large number of participants and distinguished guests who included Acting Commissioner of Police Wong Tsan-kwong and Mrs Wong, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police Tsang Yam-pui and his wife. |
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One of the evening's highlights was an auction of ten specially numbered books on the history of the Auxies, "Looking Back with Pride and Glory". Signed by the Commissioner of Police Hui Ki-on and the Commandant Auxiliary Peter Chau, the books fetched almost $50,000 for the Auxiliary Police Welfare Fund. The book, numbered 888, went for $11,000 to SPA Lui On-bong. The toast by the Commandant Auxiliary and the Chief Executive to the "Auxiliary Police Force" was simple but solemn, with Mr Tung praising the Auxies for being deeply committed to Hong Kong - which was illustrated just over a week later during the first legislative elections following the Handover on 24 May. | |
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Despite the thunderstorms, while Hong Kong people rushed to vote in record numbers, the Auxiliary Police also broke records with a total of 2,036 officers from all five Regions turning out for duty at polling stations all over Hong Kong. Said one rain-soaked Auxy PC standing outside a polling station: "Yes I'm tired and wet, but as the large turn out of voters attests, this is an important election, and I'm happy to help make it a success." |
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