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«EDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985
HE SAID WHERE FALLING OBJECTS OCCURRED AT BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR OR DECORATION, THE RESPONSIBILITY RESTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTORS CONCERNED, BÚT POLICE INVESTIGATION OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS INVOLVING HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WAS ALWAYS FRAUGHT WITH DIFFICULTIES.
MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT SUCH INVESTIGATIONS WERE TIME-CONSUMING AND DID NOT ALWAYS PRODUCE THE DESIRED RESULTS AND THE POLICE'S SUCCESS DEPENDED ESSENTIALLY ON THE CO-OPERATION OF WITNESSES.
+ IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE ACTION, BUT EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CULPRITS IN EVERY REPORTED INCIDENT, DOOR TO DOOR ENQUIRIES BY THE OFFICERS DO PRODUCE A DETERRENT EFFECT ON SUCH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR, HE SAID.
MR LIAO SAID PREVENTIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION INVOLVING DISTRICT BOARDS AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES WAS THE BEST APPROACH TO THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
+AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, DISTRICT OFFICERS AND THE IR STAFF THROUGH REGULAR LIAISON WITH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS, OWNERS CORPORATIONS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS, WILL CONTINUE THE TASK OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT SUCH ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, + HE ADDED.
MR LIAO NOTED THAT A SUCCESSFUL PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED IN WONG TAI SIN IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR BY THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WHERE POSTERS, STICKERS AND PAMPHLETS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS.
+A SIMILAR CAMPAIGN WAS ALSO ORGANISED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.
MR LIAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS MINDFUL OF THE NEED TO REVIEW THE ADEQUACY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THIS PROBLEM.
COMMENTS SOUGHT ON DRAFT MAGISTRATES AMENDMENT BILL
******
A NEW DRAFT BILL ALLOWING A MAGISTRATE THE DISCRETION TO AMEND A DEFECTIVE COMPLAINT, INFORMATION OR SUMMONS HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT TO THE HON MARTIN LEE FOR COMMENTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY MR LEE HIMSELF. HE RECALLED THAT DRAFTING LEGISLATION ON THE MATTER HAD BEEN CIRCULATED FOR DISCUSSION SOME TIME AGO.
/MR THOMAS