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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1980

MEASURES TO KEEP SUBWAYS SAFE FOR USERS

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FREQUENT POLICE PATROLS AND ADEQUATE LIGHTING WILL BE PROVIDED TO HELP KEEP PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS SAFE FOR USERS, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID: +NEW SUBWAYS ARE BEING LIT TO IMPROVE LIGHTING STANDARDS INTRODUCED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SINCE 1979.

+A SURVEY IS ABOUT TO BE UNDERTAKEN OF THE OLDER SUBWAYS, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE POLICE, TO ESTABLISH WHERE IMPROVED LIGHTING IS NEEDED AND THE PRIORITIES FOR ITS INTRODUCTION, HE SAID.

+FURTHER POLICE MEASURES INCLUDE CRIME PREVENTION PUBLICITY AIMED AT DISCOURAGING PEOPLE FROM CARRYING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY ON THE IR PERSON AND ALSO ADVISING WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS NOT TO WALK ALONE AT NIGHT, HE ADDED.

MR DAVIES POINTED OUT THAT A STUDY OF ALL CRIMES REPORTED TO THE POLICE SO FAR THIS YEAR HAD REVEALED ONLY TWO THAT WERE COMMITTED IN PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS: ONE CASE OF ROBBERY AND ONE OF SNATCHING.

+POLICE INVESTIGATIONS INTO A THIRD CASE INVOLVING HOMICIDE ARE NOT YET COMPLETE AND I DO NOT PROPOSE TO COMMENT ON THAT CASE FURTHER, HE SAID.

MORE NEW AMBULANCES ON WAY

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ORDERS HAVE BEEN PLACED FOR 47 NEW AMBULANCES AND PROVISION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 1980-81 DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR A FURTHER 51 UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME TO REPLACE AND EXPAND ITS AMBULANCE FLEET.

THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON E P HO IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER C WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR HO ADDED THAT PROVISION WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE 1980-81 DRAFT ESTIMATES TO AIR-CONDITION TWO AMBULANCES FOR TRIAL PURPOSES.

MR HO EXPLAINED THAT THE QUESTION OF AIR-CONDITIONING FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S AMBULANCES HAD BEEN LOOKED INTO VERY CAREFULLY AND

IT WAS GENERALLY AGREED THAT AIR-CONDITIONING WAS DESIRABLE THOUGH, PERHAPS, NOT ESSENTIAL IN HONG KONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES OF RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCES,

+FURTHERMORE, THERE COULD BE TECHNICAL COMPLICATIONS OVER THE OPERATION OF AIR-CONDITIONED AMBULANCES, PARTICULARLY HAVING REGARD TO OUR HILLY TERRAIN,+ MR HO SAID.

MR HO ALSO POINTED OUT THAT OF THE 135 AMBULANCES AT PRESENT IN SERVICE 72 WERE PURCHASED DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS PART OF THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME.

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