Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung police divisions may be merged to form a new police district. The proposal is one of several options being considered to change boundaries within the Kowloon East Police region, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee told legislators today.

He said there is no timetable for implementing the merger, and the matter is being considered in the context of the long-term review of the reorganisation of the Kowloon East region.

Mr Lee said the Police keeps its structure, including its regional and district boundaries, under regular review.

"The force takes into account factors like projected population growth, land use and development, geographical characteristics and crime statistics in these reviews," he said.

The populations of Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung are about 373,000 and 47,000, the former expected to rise 1.8% to 391,000 by 2008, and the latter forecast to remain stable over the next three years.

Police have been monitoring crime trends and policing needs of the two divisions, and since 2000, about 100 disciplined posts have been created.