SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1992
WITNESS PROTECTION TO BE EXAMINED
THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (FCC) TODAY (SATURDAY) AGREED TO SET UP A SPECIAL TEAM TO EXAMINE WITNESS PROTECTION IN HONG KONG.
AT A MEETING CHAIRED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY SIR DAVID FORD ΤΟ EXAMINE THE ISSUE, THE COMMITTEE DECIDED THAT THE TEAM SHOULD BE SET UP IMMEDIATELY AND REPORT BACK TO THE FCC IN THREE MONTHS.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE (THE TEAM) ARE:
TO EXAMINE EXISTING WITNESS PROTECTION AND REASSURANCE MEASURES IN HONG KONG TO SEE HOW STRENGTHENED;
THEY
WITNESS CAN BE
*
TO CONSIDER THE APPLICABILITY TO HONG KONG VICTIM ASSISTANCE SCHEMES:
OF OVERSEAS
TO CONSIDER WAYS TO REINFORCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN WITNESS PROTECTION MEASURES THROUGH PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES; AND
TO REPORT THE FINDINGS TO THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE, TO BE CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE, WILL INCLUDE FCC MEMBERS MRS MIRIAM LAU AND MR PETER WONG, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS AND THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (OPERATIONS) OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
MR
SPEAKING AFTER THE MEETING, ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, IAN STRACHAN, SAID THE GROUP WOULD BE LOOKING AT ALL MEASURES OF WITNESS PROTECTION THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED AND TESTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE UNITED STATES AND ITALY.
MR STRACHAN NOTED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT WITNESSES WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE POLICE PROTECTION ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THEY REPORTED CRIME AND WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN COURT IF THIS PROVED NECESSARY.
IN ADDITION, THE PROPOSED ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIMES LEGISLATION WAS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A NUMBER OF "SUPERGRASSES" WHO WOULD REQUIRE A HIGH LEVEL OF PROTECTION.
"IF WE ARE TO BREAK THROUGH THE WALL OF SILENCE SURROUNDING ORGANISED CRIME WE MUST BE ABLE ΤΟ DEMONSTRATE TO THESE POTENTIAL WITNESSES, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC, THAT WE HAVE THE MEASURES TO PROTECT THEM PROPERLY, HE SAID.
++
15