PUBLIC ORDER
266
sharking, resulted in the increasing involvement of the Organised Crimes and Triad Bureau in investigations into the activity. One notable success was the neutralisation of a syndicate which had targeted civil servants.
However, set against these successes was an increase in wounding cases, assault and intimidation, which were crimes regarded as being typical of triad activity, and indicative of the continuing threat posed by triads.
The continuing liaison with the Chinese authorities, together with a high level of enforcement action, halted the previous trend of recruiting illegal immigrants to commit armed robberies or other crimes in Hong Kong.
The Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance was put into full operation on April 28, 1995. The main provisions empower the police to require witnesses to give evidence, allow the confiscation of crime proceeds, and make money-laundering an indictable offence. This, coupled with the introduction of an expanded Witness Protection Scheme, gives the law enforcement authorities a useful weapon in the fight against organised crime and triads.
Witness Protection Unit
The Witness Protection Unit was formed in April 1995 to tie in with the new police powers under the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance. Its measures range from the provision of an emergency telephone number to round-the-clock protection in a Police-operated safe house. The unit has 34 specially-trained officers. Additional staff can be assigned if necessary.
Vulnerable Witnesses
With the enactment of the Evidence (Amendment) Ordinance and the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance with respect to vulnerable witnesses, the Force and the Social Welfare Department established a joint-investigation programme in November for all child-abuse cases. Five dedicated Regional Child Abuse Investigation Units were set up to investigate cases involving children who had been sexually or physically abused; mentally handicapped persons; and to assist in cases involving witnesses in fear.
-
In tandem with this move, three interview suites with video recording equipment were established. The suites are being used to video tape interviews with victims and witnesses and conduct forensic medical examinations in a friendly and non- threatening environment.
Before the legislation was enacted, the first multi-disciplinary Training Programme for Video Recorded Interviews of Vulnerable Witnesses, jointly sponsored by the Police and Social Welfare Department, was held at the Police Training School between June 5 and 30. The presenters of the course - three British experts in child protection addressed more than 1000 officials from government departments and non-government organisations concerned with the welfare of the child and the family. Sixty officers underwent more intensive training covering: understanding of child development; the problems related to child sexual and physical abuse; investigative processes and procedures; and advanced skills and techniques for interviewing both children and the mentally handicapped on video tape specifically for the purpose of investigation and prosecution.