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Stella Lee

Police Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui yesterday appealed to rank-and-file officers not to resort to legal action against a proposal to reduce pay for those suspended from duty.

In an RTHK radio interview, the police chief said the proposed arrangement was legally sound and those who faced pay cuts would have the right to appeal.

He was responding to the three-week ultimatum issued on Thursday by the Local Inspectors' Association, which has threatened to collect $100 from each officer in order to take the force to court if it goes ahead with the pay-cut plan.

While the Director of Audit has urged the force to follow other government departments and cut the wages of those on suspension, the group said the proposal was unjust.

Mr Tsang said the changes would not affect the force's operation or morale.

Most of the offences allegedly committed by suspended officers were not work-related, he said.

The 20 officers currently on suspension would not be affected by the proposed change but future cases would be reviewed individually.

Under the proposal, a welfare officer would study the financial situation of each officer and would then make recommendations to Mr Tsang on the amount of pay each individual should receive.

This could range from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.

Suspended officers have long enjoyed full salaries while being investigated.

Association chairman Tony Liu Kit-ming said legal action could be avoided.

He said the officers wanted to know what advice the force had received, adding that both the association and the force could benefit from independent legal advice.

Mr Liu has also demanded an investigation to clear his name after he accused Mr Tsang of implying that he was a liar. Apparently the dispute arose after Mr Liu said he had not been informed of legal advice given to the force concerning the pay-cuts. Mr Tsang said during a Legislative Council meeting this month that Mr Liu had been given the details.

According to Mr Liu, force management initially said the row was a misunderstanding and they would listen to tape recordings of the meeting before drawing a conclusion.



Police chief urges officers to scrap plans for legal battle