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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1985
AN OFFICER FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS AT PRESENT ON AN ATTACHMENT PROGRAMME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM STUDYING THE OPERATION OF THE UK'S COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER SCHEME AT FIRST HAND, AND SUBJECT TO THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL RESOURCES BEING MADE AVAILABLE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE ANTICIPATED THAT THE PILOT SCHEME COULD BE LAUNCHED IN 1987, HE SAID.
ON THE PROPOSED SPENT CONVICTION SCHEME, HE SAID THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE DISCUSSION PAPER PUBLISHED BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING, WITH THE MAJORITY FAVOURING THE INTRODUCTION OF A SCHEME.
HE SAID: I BELIEVE THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF A SPENT CONVICTION SCHEME IS VERY DESIRABLE. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ANY SCHEME ADOPTED SHOULD HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO ENSURE THAT REHABILITATION IS REAL RATHER THAN MERELY APPARENT.
+ IT IS MY INTENTION TO PRESENT A FIRM PROPOSAL TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EARLY NEXT YEAR WHICH WILL REFLECT SO FAR AS IS PRACTICABLE THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THOSE RESPOND ING TO THE DISCUSSION PAPER, HE SAID.
ON SOME MEMBERS' CONCERN ABOUT TRIAD ACTIVITIES AND ORGANISED CRIMES, MR THOMAS GAVE ASSURANCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALREADY TAKING ACTION IN THESE AREAS,
HE SAID THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE HAD ESTABLISHED A WORK ING GROUP ON GANGS WHICH HAD BEEN SEEKING TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF ACTIVITY BY TRIADS AND GANGS AND TO DETERMINE ON OVERAL STRATEGY,
+ THE WORK ING GROUP IS ALSO CONSIDERING CHANGES IN THE LAW. EARLY NEXT YEAR THIS COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE A DISCUSSION PAPER ON THE LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE WORKING GROUP TO PROVIDE GREATER POWERS TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ORGANISED CR IME.
+THE URBAN COUNCIL IS MEANWHILE CONDUCTING A MAJOR REVIEW OF THE PROBLEM OF TRIAD INTIMIDATION OF HAWKERS,+ MR THOMAS SAID.
'CORRECT BALANCE' SOUGHT IN DEBATES
*****
THE BREADTH AND RANGE OF TOPICS COVERED IN ALL THE SPEECHES WAS +A GOOD INDICATION OF THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF THIS REMARKABLE PLACE AND THE EFFORT NEEDED IN ALL SECTORS TO SUSTAIN OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH, TO MAINTAIN THE RISING STANDARD OF LIVING AND THE RISING EXPECTATIONS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE+, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.
/WINDING UP
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