FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1984
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STEPS TO COMBAT COMPUTER-RELATED CRIMES
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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING STEPS TO COMBAT COMPUTER-RELATED CRIMES,
+OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE RELIANCE ON COMPUTERS OR COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN BANKING, INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND A WIDE-RANGING VARIETY OF OTHER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ALSO NOW MAKE EXTENSIVE USE OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS OR NETWORKS, THE ACTING CHIEF STAFF OFFICER OF THE POLICE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU (CCB), MR RUSSELL MASON, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
*
+ DUE TO HONG KONG'S POSITION AS THE WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST FINANCIAL CENTRE, THIS TREND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CONTINUE.
+THUS THE POTENTIAL FOR COMPUTER-RELATED CRIMES INVOLVING SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES OF CASH, PROPERTY, OR VALUABLE AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MAY BE CONSIDERED AS VERY REAL, HE SAID.
MR MASON'S COMMENTS FOLLOWED ONE OF THE FIRST COMPUTER CRIME CASES INVESTIGATED BY THE CCB, IN WHICH A 29-YEAR-OLD MAN GAINED UN AUTHORISED ACCESS TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS OF A PUBLIC COMPANY AND OBTAINED RESTRICTED INFORMATION.
IN THE ABSENCE OF COMPUTER CRIME-RELATED LEGISLATION, THE MAN WAS CHARGED WITH ABSTRACTING ELECTRICITY BELONGING TO THE COMPANY.
THE MAN WHO PLEADED NOT GUILTY, WAS CONVICTED BUT GIVEN AN ABSOLUTE DISCHARGE WITH NO CONVICTION RECORDED IN CAUSEWAY BAY MAGISTRACY RECENTLY.
MR MASON EXPLAINED THAT POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS BEHIND THE APPARENT SLOW PROCESS IN THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION IN RESPECT OF ILLEGAL AND SPECIFIED UNAUTHORISED ACTS COMMITTED AGAINST COMPUTERS OR COMPUTER SYSTEMS, WAS THAT REPORTS TO POLICE OF COMPUTER-RELATED CRIMES IN HONG KONG HAD SO FAR BEEN NEGLIGIBLE.
+BUT THIS DOES NOT REFLECT THE TRUE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM AS A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS ARE NOT REPORTED BY VICTIMS FOR REASONS OF EMBARRASSMENT OR SECURITY, HE SAID.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE GAINS ACCESS OR MISUSES THE COMPUTER OF A LARGE CORPORATION, THE MANAGEMENT WOULD WANT TO SORT
THIS OUT ITSELF RATHER THAN REPORT IT TO POLICE. FOR IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATIONS AND THE CHARGING OF THE OFFENDER IN THE COURT, THIS COULD LEAD TO ADVERSE PUBLICITY RESULTING IN LOSS OF STOCKHOLDER CONFIDENCE.
+THIS ASSESSMENT IS SUPPORTED BY STATISTICS AND REPORTS FROM COMPUTER-ORIENTED COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA,+ HE SAID.
/MR MASON
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