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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986
SHE ALSO EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ON THE OPTION REQUIRING THOSE UNDER SUPERVISION TO BE GIVEN A SPECIAL FORM OF CAUTION ON BEING CHARGED.
+ON ONE HAND, IT IS AGAINST THE CURRENT JUDICIAL SPIRIT IN HONG KONG TO PASS THE BURDEN OF PROOF ON TO THE DEFENDANT.
+ON THE OTHER, THIS PROPOSAL WILL INDIRECTLY MAKE KNOWN THE DEFENDANT'S PAST CRIMINAL RECORD TO THE JUDGE AND HENCE, MIGHT BIAS THE TRIAL, SHE SAID.
ON RESTRICTING THE ACTIVITIES OF TRIAD OFFENDERS, MRS TAM AGREED THAT TRIAD FOLKLORE SHOULD BE STRIPPED OF ITS +GLAMOUR+ BUT SHE HAD SOME RESERVATIONS ON ADOPTING THE SUGGESTED APPROACH FOR THREE REASONS.
+FIRST, RESTRICTING TRIAD MEMBERS FROM ENTERING PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMITTING CRIMES WILL BE REDUCED.+
+TRIAD MEMBERS COULD EASILY SWITCH THEIR BASE TO FOOTBALL GROUNDS, THEATRES, OR EVEN RESTAURANTS, THUS CREATING GREATER DISTURBANCE TO THE PUBLIC, SHE SAID.
+SECOND, THIS MIGHT CREATE A SENSE OF SOCIAL DISCRIMINATION AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRIAD MEMBERS AND REINFORCE THEIR BELIEF THAT 'ONCE A TRIAD, ALWAYS A TRIAD AND THUS MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RE-LIVE THE LIFE OF A NORMAL PERSON.+
+THIRDLY, SOME OF THE PROHIBITED PLACES OF ACTIVITY LISTED IN THE DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATELY INCLUDED, SUCH AS BILLIARD SALOONS AND AUTOMATIC GAMES CENTRE, SHE ADDED.
MRS TAM BELIEVED ONCE THE CONTROL OF BILLIARD SALOONS BILL AND THE AUTOMATIC GAMES CENTRES BILL WERE PASSED, THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PLACES WOULD BE IMPROVED. THEREFORE THEY SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED AS PROHIBITED PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT.
LASTLY, MRS TAM SAID SHE WAS GLAD THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING THE TRIAD PROBLEM SERIOUSLY AND HAD COME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO DEAL WITH TRIAD ACTIVITIES.
HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, SHE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO ENFORCEMENT POWER AND MEASURES BY REESTABLISHING AN ANTI-TRIAD UNIT WITHIN THE POLICE, SO AS TO CENTRALISE RESOURCES IN FIGHTING TRIADS.
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