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It also considered the Personal Encounter with Prisoners Programme, which provided opportunities for young people to acquaint themselves with the harmful effects of delinquency or criminal behaviour through personal interviews with serving prisoners. The committee felt that preventive education was important to young people, that the programme was useful, and should continue to be run by the Correctional Services Department.
With the mounting concern of the public towards the increase of rape/child sexual abuse cases in 1996, the committee considered that the Education Department should play an active role in sex education. This was achieved through four channels: curriculum, school activities, guidance and counselling, and home school liaison.
In 1996, the committee continued to devote much of its attention to the problem of juvenile crime. Its sub-committee, the Standing Committee on Young Offenders, commissioned the City University's research team to conduct a study in 1996–97 on the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes for young offenders. In June 1996, the committee also considered the progress of the Action Plan drawn up to implement the recommendations of the research report on the Social Causes of Juvenile Crime, a study commissioned by the Standing Committee on Young Offenders and completed by the Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong in 1995.
District Fight Crime Committees continued to play an important role. They monitored the crime situation in their districts, and helped foster both community awareness of the need to prevent crime and community participation in combating crime. In December 1996, the Governor officiated at the Fight Crime Conference 1996 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in which all District Fight Crime Committee members participated.
Police Force
The Royal Hong Kong Police has operational responsibility for crime prevention and detection; the maintenance of law and order; traffic matters and the detection of illegal immigration, other than at entry and exit points.
In 1996, the crime situation in Hong Kong remained stable with a drop of 14 per cent, or 12 836 crimes, in the total number of crimes recorded. There was also a reduction in violent crime. The number of vehicles reported missing fell 40 per cent compared with 1995. As a result of better intelligence and improved co-operation with China, a total of 24 criminal fugitives and nine stolen luxury vehicles were returned to Hong Kong by the Chinese authorities.
The commander-designate of the Hong Kong SAR Chinese Garrison, Lieutenant- General Liu Zhenwu, paid a two-day visit to the Force in August as part of a familiarisation visit to the territory. Lieutenant-General Liu and his party were briefed on the Force's structure and operations. They also visited the Hong Kong Island Regional Command and Control Centre, Police Tactical Unit, Special Duties Unit, and Police Driving School.
Results of the first public opinion survey on the quality of police services were released on April 2. Force performance was rated as good in regards to maintaining public order at demonstrations and public events, traffic control, illegal immigration, narcotics crimes, non-firearm violent crimes, vice activities, organised and triad crimes, and firearms crimes. The survey conducted between December 1995 and