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Wednesday, May 24, 1972
RESETTLEMENT ESTATES STAFF UNDER INSTRUCTIONS
To Encourage People To Report Crime To Police
The Commissioner for Resettlement, the Hon. I.M. Lightbody, said
today when crime in an estate was reported to estates staff, they were
under instructions to encourage the person to make a report to the Police.
He was replying in the Legislative Council to the Hon. Oswald
Cheung.
Mr. Cheung had asked: "Have any departmental standing instructions
been promulgated by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the action to
be taken by his staff concerning: (a) Reports on crime made by residents
of resettlement estates to his staff; (b) criminal activities of which his
staff have actual knowledge?"
Mr. Lightbody added that more often than not the individual declines
to report to the Police.
In such event, the estate staff would try to get the complainant's
name and address, and the complaint, and inform the station, he said.
"Where estates staff personally witness a crime in an estate, they
are under instructions to make a report to the Police."
"It is however very exceptional for this situation to arise," he said.
In reply to another question by the Hon. Oswald Cheung, the
Commissioner said no record was kept in the Resettlement Department of the
number of crimes reported by tenants to estates staff.
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