:DNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
KCRC STAFF EMPOWERED TO ARREST PICKPOCKETS
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SINCE THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY BECAME INCORPORATED ON FEBRUARY 1, 1983, THERE HAVE BEEN 229 REPORTED CASES OF PICKPOCKETING ON ITS TRAINS AND RAILWAY PREMISES.
ARRESTS WERE MADE IN 68 OF THESE CASES, 23 OF THEM ON TRAINS AND 45 ON OTHER RAILWAY PROPERTY,
THESE FIGURES WERE GIVEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JE AFFRE SON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM.
MANAGEMENT HAD ISSUED CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO KCRC STAFF THAT THEY MUST ASSIST IN MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER ON RAILWAY PROPERTY, MR JEAFFRESON TOLD THE COUNCIL.
+THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 372) EMPOWERS A RAILWAY EMPLOYEE TO ARREST, WITHOUT WARRANT, ANY PERSON HE SUSPECTS OF COMMITTING AN OFFENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE,+ HE EXPLAINED.
THIS POWER RELATES PRIMARILY TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS AND BY-LAWS MADE UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND CONCERNS SUCH MATTERS AS TREPASSING ON RAILWAY PROPERTY, NOT PAYING FARES AND HAWKING.
+UNDER THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 221) RAILWAY EMPLOYEES, LIKE ALL OTHER CITIZENS, ALSO HAVE THE POWER OF CITIZEN'S ARREST IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY SUSPECT THAT AN OFFENCE, SUCH AS PICKPOCKETING, HAS BEEN COMMITTED, HE EXPLAINED.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CORPORATION'S STAFF IS TO RUN THE RAILWAY SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
+SOMETIMES THIS OBLIGATION MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER SPENDING THE TIME REQUIRED TO APPREHEND A PERSON WHO APPEARS TO HAVE COMMITTED AN OFFENCE.
*THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN OBLIGATIONS OCCURS PARTICULARLY AT SMALLER STATIONS WHERE FEW STAFF ARE AVAILABLE AND AT BUSY TIMES WHEN INNER SUBURBAN TRAINS MIGHT BE CARRYING ANYTHING UP TO 1 500 PASSENGERS AT THREE-AND-A-HALF-MINUTE INTERVALS, + MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT.
TDC MAINTAINS HIGH LEVEL OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
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THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS POISED AND READY TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE IMPROVED TRADING OUTLOOK WHILE REMAINING FLEXIBLE AND ALERT TO SHIFTS AND CHANGES IN DEMAND HERE AND ABROAD, THE HON LYDIA DUNN SAID TODAY.
MISS DUNN WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE TDC, WAS TABLING ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1982-83 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
/+WHILE THE