Police will spend 50 per cent more on intelligence-gathering this financial year, partly to meet increased anti-terrorism demands, the commissioner said yesterday.
Expenses covering rewards for police informants and for special services were about $54 million last year and are expected to reach $80 million this year.
Police Commissioner Dick Lee Ming-kwai said the spending covered confidential operations, including the fight against terrorism, serious crime, narcotics and security issues.
But he declined to give further details, saying it could jeopardise confidential police operations, and was not in the public interest.
'If I disclose the details here, it will only benefit the crime syndicates. It is the principal of all security authorities around the world not to openly talk about the use of informants' fees,' he told lawmakers at a Legco Finance Committee special meeting.
However, Mr Lee said the spending would be worthwhile and there would be no corruption.