31
102.
(a) Crime
crimes, and
While a small decrease in recorded crime is likely this year compared with last, the high incidence of triad and
gang
serious and violent crimes committed by
continues young men,
to cause serious concern. The Police
have revised their strategies to counter triad and gang activity and these are already proving effective. In particular, the decrease expected in the overall level of violent crime is largely due to
to a decline in the number of
armed robberies, which in turn is attributed to the seizure by the Police of some 58 genuine and converted firearms in the first six months of the year.
The Fight
103.
Crime Committee continues to offer
valuable advice in our efforts to reduce crime. It has focused government's attention on areas of public concern and a number of important legislative proposals, some of which will be put to this Council later this session, have sprung from its recommendations. These include increased penalties for the possession and use of firearms, legislation to ban replica firearms, improvements to the Watchmen Ordinance, and provisions which will make it easier for residents to deal with nuisances caused by nearby vice establishments. The Committee has also recommended guidelines to developers for improving security in multi-storey buildings, and has helped obtain the co-operation of goldsmiths in improving their security arrangements. I am indebted to its dedication to a difficult and time consuming task.
the Committee
for
/ (b)
Narcotics