14
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1974
HE STRESSED THAT THESE CHANGES AND PLANS, TOGETHER WITH THOSE SUGGESTED BY THE GOVERNOR, SHOULD BEGIN TO SHOW SOME RESULTS IN IMPROVING DETECTION RATES AND DISCOURAGING THUGS.
HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT THE GREATEST SINGLE IMPROVEMENT WOULD BE ACHIEVED BY THE INCREASING CO-OPERATION OF, AND ASSISTANCE FROM, THE PUBLIC.
TURNING TO THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT, MR. DAVIES SAID: +IT IS NOT ONLY FACING THE PROBLEMS OF AN INCREASING PRISON POPULATION BUT, EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND DEMANDING, IT NOW HAS TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR A MUCH GREATER NUMBER OF TOUGHER, YOUNGER AND MORE TRUCULENT PRISONERS SERVING LONGER SENTENCES.
+THIS POSES DISCIPLINARY AND SECURITY PROBLEMS WHICH THE COMMISSIONER AND HIS OFFICERS ARE MEETING WITH DETERMINATION DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES THAT SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION IMPOSES.+
APART FROM SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID, CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO PROPOSALS FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND FINANCIAL APPROVAL HAD BEEN GIVEN TO CONSTRUCT A REFRACTORY BLOCK FOR THE BETTER ENFORCEMENT OF DISCIPLINE WITHIN STANLEY PRISON.
SITE FORMATION WORK HAD ALSO BEGUN FOR A NEW KOWLOON RECEPTION CENTRE FOR THOSE ON REMAND. THIS CENTRE WOULD EVENTUALLY RELIEVE THE OVERCROWDING AND UNSATISFACTORY CONDITIONS IN THE VICTORIA RECEPTION CENTRE IN HONG KONG.
ON THE STAFFING OF THE PRISON SERVICE, MR, DAVIES SAID
IT WAS BETTER THAN IT HAD EVER BEEN.
+SINCE THE PRISON SERVICE PAY REVISION ANNOUNCED IN MAY THIS YEAR THERE HAS BEEN A WELCOME AND PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION OF VACANCIES AT ALL LEVELS IN THE STAFF OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE STRENGTH OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICE THIS MONTH WAS 2,200 COMPARED WITH 1,600 A YEAR AGO, A 37 PER CENT INCREASE.
ON THE QUESTION OF DRUGS, MR. DAVIES SHARED THE WIDELY HELD VIEW THAT TO CONTROL CRIME AND REDUCE IT THE ILLICIT DRUG TRADE MUST BE SMASHED AND TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTS EXPANDED AND DEVELOPED.
HE REFERRED TO THE BIG SEIZURES MADE BY THE NARCOTICS BUREAU OF THE POLICE AND THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND ADDED THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN BURMA, THAILAND AND ELSEWHERE HAD ALSO ACHIEVED NOTABLE SUCCESSES WHICH INDIRECTLY +HELP. OUR POSITION+.
HE POINTED OUT: