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+ZANGOAT, MAY 23, 1979
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HE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT IT WILL BE INCUMBENT UPON THE COMMISSIONER OF POL ICE TO LAY DOWN PRACTICAL ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE POWERS ARE NOT MISUSED OR ABUSED AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL.
THIS ASPECT REPRESENTS A STRONG RESERVATION ON THE PART OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SUPPORT THE BILL, HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED MAKING AVAILABLE THE CHINESE TEXT OF THE BILL AS AMENDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE AT THIS LEVEL, AND CIRCULATING IT WIDELY AT THE CDO AND N.T. DISTRICT BOARDS LEVELS, AS WELL AS AMONG THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES.
MR. WONG ALSO SUPPORTED THE BILL BUT POINTED OUT THAT
THE POWERS GIVEN TO THE POLICE, IN THE HANDS OF LESS EXPERIENCED OFFICERS OR OFFICERS WHO HAPPEN TO BE NEGLIGENT, MAY EASILY RESULT IN UNJUSTIFIABLE INTERFERENCE WITH
PERSONAL FREEDOM.
HE SUGGESTED THAT IF A POLICEMAN FINDS THE EXPLANATION GIVEN BY A PERSON SUSPECTED TO HAVE LOITERED UNACCEPTABLE, AND TAKES HIM BACK TO THE POLICE STATION, HE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY REFER THE CASE TO AN OFFICER OF INSPECTORATE RANK OR ABOVE AND GIVE HIS REASONS FOR NOT ACCEPTING THE EXPLANATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PERSON SUSPECTED OF LOITERING SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH THE SENIOR OFFICER TO EXPLAIN HIS CASE.
MR. WONG SAID SUCH SAFEGUARDS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE WIDEST PUBLICITY. IN ADDITION, HE THOUGHT A SET OF INTERNAL POLICE REGULATIONS SHOULD BE LAID DOWN TO PROVIDE FOR APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST ANY POLICEMAN WHO ABUSES SUCH POWERS.
GEOTECHNICAL INSPECTIONS CARRIED OUT
ON MORE THAN 10,000 SLOPES
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GEOTECHNICAL INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT ON MORE THAN 10,000 SLOPES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY WHICH WERE THOUGHT MIGHT AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROPERTY.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE HON. LYDIA DUNN
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
FORTUNATELY THE CONDITIONS ON THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE SLOPES WERE FOUND TO BE SATISFACTORY AND REQUIRED LITTLE OR NO REMEDIAL WORK, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MORE DETAILED GEOTECHNICAL STUDIES WERE RECOMMENDED FOR THE REMAINDER AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ENGAGED ON A PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMME OF INVESTIGATION OF THESE SLOPES.
WHERE A