3
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1991
"WE
THE
SEVERAL HAVE HAD
DISCUSSIONS TO THIS END WITH AUTHORITIES IN GUANDONG PROVINCE, THE MOST RECENT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE LATE LAST WEEK AND FURTHER DISCUSSIONS TODAY," HE SAID.
MR ASPREY STRESSED THAT ANY USE OF FIREARMS IN OF CRIME WAS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER.
THE COMMISSION
9 IN WHICH THE ROBBERY WHICH TOOK PLACE IN KWUN TONG ON JUNE
WAS AN ASSAULT RIFLE WAS USED
A CRIME OF PARTICULAR CONCERN, MR
ASPREY SAID.
"THAT CASE IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE POLICE.
"EXTENSIVE ENQUIRIES, INCLUDING LIAISON WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AT A HIGH LEVEL, ARE TAKING PLACE," MR ASPREY SAID.
GOVERNMENT THE SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE
DETERMINED WAS THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE APPREHENDED SPEEDILY AND BROUGHT TRIAL.
TO
AUTHORITY BELIEVED THE
THAT CERTAINTY OF ARREST AND PROSECUTION WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEASURE AGAINST CRIME, HE ADDED.
GRADUALIST APPROACH NECESSARY FOR POLITICAL FUND-RAISING
A GRADUALIST AND CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO RELAXING THE RESTRICTION ON PUBLIC DONATIONS FOR NON-CHARITABLE PURPOSES IS NEEDED AS SUCH ACTIVITIES IS A RELATIVELY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN HONG
KONG, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON ALBERT LAM, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991, MR LAM STRESSED THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE AINED AT THE LIBERALISATION OF A CURRENT RESTRICTION, RATHER THAN TO HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG,
"THE FACT IS THAT HITHERTO THE COLLECTION OF DONATIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES OTHER THAN FOR APPROVED CHARITIES IS NOT ALLOWED.
"THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR A RELAXATION OF THIS CURRENT RESTRICTION, PARTICULARLY IN THE WAKE
OF ELECTIONS WHICH ARE COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR," HE SAID.
A GRADUALIST AND CAUTIOUS APPROACH WAS NEEDED, HE SAID, BECAUSE IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO SAFEGUARD THE WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST, AND TO ENSURE THAT FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES DID NOT PROLIFERATE IN OUR ALREADY OVERCROWDED STREETS, WHICH COULD PROVOKE HOSTILE PUBLIC REACTION AGAINST FUND-RAISING GENERALLY.
/MR LAM