WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986
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CS: CLEAR MANDATE FOR TOUGHER ACTION ON TRIADS
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THE PUBLIC HAS GIVEN A CLEAR MANDATE FOR TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST TRIADS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SIR DAVID SAID THIS WHEN TABLING A STATEMENT ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROCEED WITH MEASURES TO CHANGE THE LAW AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW DEALING WITH TRIADS IN SOCIETY.
THE STATEMENT SHOWED THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO TACKLE THE CRIME PROBLEM WITH VIGOUR, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THE STATEMENT WAS THE CULMINATION OF A PERIOD OF EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DISTRICT BOARDS, THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, ORGANISATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF A DISCUSSION DOCUMENT. AN INDEPENDENT SURVEY ON PUBLIC VIEWS HAD ALSO BEEN CARRIED OUT.
HE THANKED ALL THOSE WHO HAD MADE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE SUBJECT, AND IN PARTICULAR DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, WHO CHAIRED THE AD-HOC GROUP OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHICH EXAMINED THE DOCUMENT.
SUMMARISING OPINIONS GIVEN, SIR DAVID SAID: IT IS CLEAR THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OF THIS COUNCIL WANT TO SEE SUSTAINED AND DETERMINED ACTION AGAINST TRIADS, AND THAT PEOPLE WERE EVEN WILLING TO SACRIFICE SOME OF THEIR FREEDOMS THE BETTER TO TACKLE TRIADS. WHILE WARNING OF THE POSSIBLE ABUSE OF POWER BY THE POLICE AND THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
+MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ALSO CALLED FOR GREATER EFFORT TO EDUCATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE TRIAD PROBLEM AND MORE EFFORT TO REHABILITATE THOSE WHO WANT TO ESCAPE THE CLUTCHES OF THE TRIADS.+
HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS UNIVERSAL SUPPORT FOR BETTER PROTECTION OF WITNESSES AND ALREADY A NOTICE HAD BEEN SENT TO ALL PROSECUTORS DRAWING THEIR ATTENTION TO THE WAYS IN WHICH A COURT MIGHT PROTECT A WITNESS WHILE HE WAS GIVING EVIDENCE.
+A POLICE GENERAL ORDER IS BEING PREPARED TO THE SAME EFFECT. IT WILL ENSURE THAT PROPER CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN, BY THOSE IN CHARGE OF CASES WHERE WITNESSES FEEL THREATENED, WHETHER OR NOT TO WITHHOLD THEIR ADDRESSES FROM THEIR STATEMENTS, HE SAID.
+THE INTRODUCTION OF ONE-WAY VIEWERS FOR IDENTIFICATION PARADES RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. THE POLICE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING OUT THE DETAILS OF PROVIDING FIVE ONE-WAY VIEWERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.+
/OTHER MEASURES