WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992
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MEASURES TO COMBAT ARMED ROBBERIES OUTLINED
THE POLICE HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THEIR ARMS AND AMMUNITION TO ENSURE THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT IS ADEQUATE TO TACKLE CRIMINALS WHO ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY SOPHISCATED, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR ASPREY SAID A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN SUGGESTED, INCLUDING MORE EFFECTIVE AMMUNITION AND REVOLVERS, SPEED LOADING EQUIPMENT AND A NEW STYLE OF HOLSTER.
"THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED URGENTLY WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION," HE SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PEGGY LAM.
MR APSREY POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS TO COMBAT THE OCCURENCE OF ARMED ROBBERIES.
IN THE CASE OF CRIMES INVOLVING CRIMINALS FROM CHINA, THE GOVERNMENT HAD IMPROVED CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA THROUGH BETTER COMMUNICATIONS AND LIAISON.
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AT PRESENT, HE SAID THIS WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE INTERPOL WHICH BOTH CHINA AND HONG KONG WERE MEMBERS, REGULAR BORDER LIAISON AND VISITS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG POLICE AND MAINLAND PUBLIC SECURITY OFFICERS.
"HOWEVER,
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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS JUST RETURNED FROM LIAISON MEETING IN CHINA AT WHICH CROSS BORDER CRIME INCLUDING FIREARM OFFENCES WAS DISCUSSED.
"IT WAS AGREED TO STEP UP LIAISON THROUGH STATIONING A LIAISON OFFICER IN HONG KONG AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION THE HONG KONG POLICE, AND THE GUANGDONG AND SHENZHEN INTERPOL OFFICES TO CO-ORDINATE ACTION IN URGENT CASES.
CHINESE
BETWEEN LIAISON
"SUCH MEASURES SHOULD BE VERY USEFUL IN ENABLING MORE EFFICIENT EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON THE MOVEMENT OF CRIMINALS AND THE INFLUX OF FIREARMS ACROSS THE BORDER, MR ASPREY SAID.
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HE STRESSED THAT LIAISON WITH CHINA MUST BE REINFORCED BY EFFECTIVE ACTION BY THE POLICE WITHIN HONG KONG INCLUDING MORE HIGH PROFILE PATROLS AROUND PREMISES PRONE TO ARMED ROBBERIES SUCH AS GOLDSMITH AND JEWELLERY SHOPS.
"THIS HAS MET WITH SOME SUCCESS. THE NUMBER OF ROBBERIES INVOLVING FIREARMS AND PISTOL-LIKE OBJECTS HAS DECREASED FROM 61 IN JANUARY TO 32 IN APRIL THIS YEAR, HE SAID.
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MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT THE POLICE HAD APPREHENDED SOME
OF THE CULPRITS INVOLVED IN ARMED ROBBERIES. THE ROBBERIES IN ΤΑΙ KOK TSUI WHICH TOOK PLACE IN APRIL AND IN SHAM SHUI PO IN MARCH WERE CASES IN POINT.
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