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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986
HE SAID THE PUBLIC, HAVING NOW BEEN MADE MORE AWARE OF THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM, COULD PERHAPS BE PERSUADED TO MORE CLOSELY CO-OPERATE WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN FACING UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND DANGERS OF TRIADS.
+ IN THIS RESPECT, THE ORGANISED CRIME AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES GROUP WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALING WITH TRIADS WITHIN THE POLICE FORCE COULD ADOPT A MORE VISIBLE PRESENCE WITH THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.
A TRIADS HOT LINE WHICH WOULD BE TAKING CALLS 24 HOURS A DAY COULD ALSO BE SET UP, HE SUGGESTED.
IN ORDER TO COMMAND PUBLIC SUPPORT. THE POLICE MUST BE SEEN BY THE PUBLIC TO BE GOING ALL-OUT TO TACKLE THE TRIAD PROBLEM, HE STRESSED.
FURTHERMORE, HE SAID THERE COULD BE MORE FOCUS ON TRIAD- RELATED MATTERS AT DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND AT OTHER FUNCTIONS ATTENDED BY POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS TO GIVE ADDED INPUT TO THE POLICE COMMUNICATION NETWORK IN COMBATING THE PROBLEMS.
ON THE PROPOSED OPTIONS WHICH WOULD CURTAIL THE WIDE RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IF ADOPTED, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID WE WERE FACED WITH A CHOICE IN THE BALANCING OF THE LARGER INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AGAINST THE PERSONAL FREEDOM OF THOSE WHO WOULD FLOUT THE LAW.
IN HIS VIEW, IT WAS NECESSARY TO LEGISLATE FOR SOME OF THE OPTIONS PROPOSED.
+CERTAINLY THE PUBLIC WOULD WELCOME NEW MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE WITNESSES TO COME FORWARD TO TESTIFY, SUCH AS THE USE OF ONE-WAY MIRRORS, THE CREATION OF 'TASK FORCES' OF INVESTIGATORS AND LAWYERS TO CONCENTRATE ON SUSPECTED INDIVIDUALS AND ENTERPRISES, THE ADAPTING OF SOME OF THE PROCEDURES OF THE AMERICAN GRAND JURY SYSTEM IN THE ATTACK ING OF THE ORGANISED CRIME IN ORDER TO GET AT THE 'BIG GUN' IN THE TRIAD WORLD,+ MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID.
ON THE ADDITIONAL POWERS WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIGHT TRIADS AND OTHER FORMS OF ORGANISED CRIME, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD GIVE THEM TO THE POLICE AND AT THE SAME TIME STRENGTHEN THE MONITORING COMMITTEES TO ENSURE THAT THESE POWERS WOULD NOT BE ABUSED.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW THE REDUCTION OF ANY POWERS HAVING TO DO WITH PERSONAL FREEDOM WHICH WERE NO LONGER REQUIRED IN THE OVERALL COMMUNITY INTEREST AS AND WHEN THE GROWING THREAT OF ORGANISED CRIME AS REPRESENTED BY TRIADS IN PARTICULAR BECAME LESS SERIOUS.
/MR CHEONG-LEEN