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2.
As regards statistics on prosecutions, I am
advised by the Secretary for Security that the figures
requested by Mr Cheung are not readily available. The
Commissioner of Police does, however, maintain statistics
on the combined total number of prosecutions under section
24, on the charging of excessive interest rates, and under
section 29, on lending money without a licence. These
statistics show that the number of persons prosecuted
increased from an average of two per month between January
1983 and April 1984 to just under six per month between
May 1984 and February 1987. Statistics on the number of
successful prosecutions are only available from July 1986
onward: these statistics indicate that in the last six
months of 1986 a total of 37 persons were tried on the
principal charge of lending money without a licence or
lending money at an excessive rate of interest; there were
14 convictions representing a conviction rate of about 38
per cent.
3.
Turning to the third part of Mr Cheung's
question, I should point out that the Commissioner of
Police investigates the background and the conduct of
money lenders to prevent and detect offences under the
Ordinance, and he, of course, takes action on reports of
alleged breaches of the Ordinance. As regards new
/measures,