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EDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1977
UNOFFICIALS SUPPORT CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL
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DEBATE ON THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL, WHICH SEEKS TO PROTECT WOMEN AND GIRLS AGAINST EXPLOITATION FOR PROSTITUTION, RESUMED
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
FIVE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, AND WERE ASSURED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, THAT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE IR SUGGESTIONS RELATING TO THE ACTION THEY THOUGHT SHOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH POLICE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW.
THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG SAID IT HAD GIVEN THE UNOFFICIALS MUCH CONCERN AND A LARGE GROUP OF THEM HAD SPENT LONG HOURS IN STUDYING ITS CONTENTS AND IMPLICATIONS AND IN DISCUSSING IT AMONG THEMSELVES AND WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
+BEYOND A CERTAIN LIMIT, I THINK ONE CANNOT LEGISLATE FOR PEOPLE'S SEXUAL LIVES WE CAN ONLY SET CERTAIN MINIMUM STANDARDS ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, + HE SAID.
HE EXPLAINED: +WE HAVE SET OUR FACE AGAINST THE EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN FOR SEXUAL PURPOSES AND AGAINST VICE-ESTABLISHMENTS CARRIED ON UNDER A THIN VENEER OF PROBITY PIMPS AND BAWDS WHEN
CONVICTED WILL FIND THAT THE TARIFF WILL HAVE GONE UP.
+NOR WILL WE TOLERATE RAPE OR THE PROCUREMENT OF WOMEN BY THREAT, FORCE, FALSE PRETENCES OR THE USE OF DRUGS, NOR THE DEF ILÈMENT OF YOUNG GIRLS AND THE IR ENTICEMENT INTO PROSTITUTION.
+WE HAVE NOT HOWEVER THOUGHT IT RIGHT TO CHANGE THE LAW ON UNNATURAL OFFENCES, NOR INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR IT,+ HE ADDED.
IN HIS SPEECH, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN POINTED OUT THAT EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR PROSTITUTION WAS VERY OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH TRIAD ACTIVITY.
HE HOPED THAT WITH THE PASSING OF THE BILL, POLICE EFFORTS AND EFFECTIVENESS WOULD BE REINFORCED SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE WORST EXCESSES OF TRIAD INVOLVEMENT IN ORGANISED PROSTITUTION.
+CF THE SEVERAL THOUSAND GIRLS WHO ARE REPORTED MISSING EVERY YEAR, THERE IS AS YET NO EXACT FIGURE OF HOW MANY OF THEM ARE LURED, CAJOLED OR COERCED INTO PROSTITUTION. HOWEVER THE FIGURE IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
+YOUNG GIRLS WHO HAVE RUN AWAY FROM HOME ARE THE PRINCIPAL TARGETS. THROUGH VARIOUS PLOYS AND PRACTICES, WHICH COULD GO AS FAR AS GANG-RAPING, THE VICTIMS THROUGH SHOCK FEAR, AND SHAME ARE REDUCED TO A STATE WHERE THEY BECOME INCAPABLE OF REFUSING TO OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE TRIAD GANG, HE SAID.
THE HON. MRS. KWAN
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