Measures to beat crime supported
COMMUNITY and student leaders yesterday added their support for government's new measures to fight violent crime.
And they called the Bar Association's statement on government's four Bills as a "Western point of view."
But, some of them agreed that certain points in the statement need to be taken into consideration by the government in view of the present legal structure.
They claimed that as the crime rate in Hongkong is so high, severe punishment is necessary to scare off potential ⚫ offenders.
"But we have to admit that this is only a temporary 'solution to the problem. A thorough solution will involve a basic reform in the social
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1
considered the matter carefully and I see no point why the Bar Association should object to it," Mr Shum said.
ARGUMENT,
"The Bar Association's argument was based on the perception of the Western law i and I don't think it's applicable
crime-ridden society like Hongkong."
A step in the right direction here, particularly in a
structure.
"This will mean a general improvement in housing, education, social welfare. standard of living and the suppression of inflation."
Urban Councillor Mr Y.K. Kan said the government's anti-crime Bills that appeared in Friday's Gazette are a step in the right direction.
"The spiralling crime rate is considered by us as a social problem and since Hongkong is a Chinese society we have to adopt a set of rules within this framework to deal with the problem."
Commenting on the Bar Association 's statement on Saturday, Mr Kan said it was the lawyers' view-point of the present situation.
"And as professionals in the legal field they have the obligation to safeguard the law
structure.
more
severe !
"And this is quite a i different matter to the Chinese citizens here. They want security and would therefore
to agree punishment for criminals."
Nevertheless, Mr Kan said, the Bar Association has its own point, and it is therefore the 25 to government's concern what extent a compromise can be made..
..
+
Mr Shum Lo-yeung, chairman of the Wongtaisin Kaifong Association, said he supported government's new Bills on the prevention violent crime.
of
"Before introducing these bills the government must have
WARM-UP
FOR 'BEAT CRIME DRIVE
POLICE last night gave the anti-crime campaign an early start when they questioned 500 people and stopped more than 300 cars in Kowloon and on the island.
According to police; sources more than one thou- sand of people have been questioned by police street patrols over the week-end.
The source said the move is to "crack the shell" before - the campaign starts rolling.
•
. Besides the stop-and-
search police, also conducted a series of raids on apartments, illegal gambling and drugs dens in almost every district.
More than 50 people have been charged with keeping a common gambling house,.
14 MAY 1970 STAR
playing in them and for drugs offences.
Meanwhile senior police officials are believed to have
$
drafted a list of plans to mark the official opening of the campaign.
Mr Shum said that although severe punishment was 3 temporary solution it was better than having no solution at all.
He said all kaifong associations in Hongkong had pledged their support for the government for the coming anti-crime campaign.
They will send their representatives to the area committees to be organised by the Secretariat for Home Affairs later this month to help promote security measures in! buildings and to bridge the relationship between the public and the police.
Former president of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, Mr Leung Kwok-fai, was also in favour of severe punishment for criminals, but was in sympathy with the Bar 'Association.
He said he was specially concerned with the question involving legal aid and the danger evolving from the public's ignorance of the prosecution procedure.
"Defendants who know nothing about law will be placed in an unfavourable position under the new Bill and there may be danger that innocent people will fall victims to mishandled prosecutions."
Mr Leung said the Bar Association's statement should not be looked upon as an objection to the adoption of severe punishment, but rather as a constructive viewpoint to maintain justice.
Senior lawyer backs
14 MAY 1073 STAR.
new crime laws
ENIOR lawyer and committes member of the Law Society, Mr Edmund Y.S. Cheung today come out in "full support" of the proposed new anti trime laws.
"I certainly do not agree with the Bar Association Committee's criticisms of the new bills," he said.
"They are in no way against British justice.
"The bills merely encble Magistrates and District Judges to pass tougher sentences which are necessary in these times.
"Personally, I fully support the bills though I cannot speak for the committee of the Law Society," he told The STAR,
Asked about the absence of legal aid in magistrates' courts and restricted legal aid in District Courts, he said:
"Admittedly there is no legal aid in Magistrates Courts but that does not mean that innocent people will be convicted there."
Law Society Choirman Mr Pater C. Wong said the society had not yet con- sidered the bills but would discuss the details on Thursday.
He said its support for the anti-crime campaign did not represent its views on the anti-crime bilk.
The Law Society with 289 members is Hongkong's biggest body representing the legal profession,