WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1993
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PUBLIC RELUCTANT TO REPORT LOANSHARKING ACTIVITIES
* * *
THE MAIN PROBLEM WHICH THE POLICE FACE IN COMBATTING LOANSHARKING IS THE RELUCTANCE OF THE PUBLIC TO REPORT CASES TO
THEM, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON TANG SIU-TONG, MR ASPREY SAID THE ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIMES BILL, WHEN ENACTED, SHOULD PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE POWERS TO THE POLICE TO TACKLE LOANSHARKING, AND HEAVIER PENALTIES FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF LOANSHARKING OFFENCES, INCLUDING CONFISCATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH CRIMES.
AT PRESENT, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THE OFFENCE OF LENDING MONEY AT AN EXCESSIVE INTEREST RATE IS A FINE OF $100,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.
THE SECRETARY SAID THE POLICE AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF HAD TAKEN A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO PREVENT LOANSHARKING ACTIVITIES IN NEWLY COMPLETED PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
THE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS LIAISE CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS TO WARN OF THE DANGERS OF BORROWING FROM LOANSHARKS, AND TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO REPORT LOANSHARKING CASES TO THE POLICE.
AT
BRIEFINGS FOR NEW TENANTS OF HOUSING ESTATES, THE DANGER
POSED BY LOANSHARKS IS HIGHLIGHTED.
ESTATE STAFF ALSO PROVIDE HELP ΤΟ THE POLICE IN OPERATIONS AGAINST LOANSHARKS, HE SAID.
THAT
MR ASPREY SAID INTELLIGENCE COLLECTED BY THE POLICE ABOUT LOANSHARKING SYNDICATES IN TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG HAD INDICATED
PROBLEM IN THESE AREAS WAS NOT DETERIORATING, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD NOT BE DESCRIBED AS BEING UNDER CONTROL.
THE
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE POLICE HAVE RECEIVED 12 REPORTS OF LOANSHARKING IN TUEN MUN AND FIVE IN YUEN LONG. TWO CASES IN TUEN MUN
WERE PROSECUTED.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF EVIDENCE, THE THREE DEFENDANTS IN THESE TWO CASES WERE ACQUITTED. ALL OF THE REPORTS IN YUEN LONG WERE ANONYMOUS AND COULD NOT BE PURSUED.
TAKE
APART FROM INVESTIGATING ALL REPORTS RECEIVED, THE POLICE ALSO THE INITIATIVE TO MOUNT SPECIAL UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS AGAINST LOANSHARKS, MR ASPREY SAID.
THE
BUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE OPERATIONS WAS AGAIN HAMPERED BY RELUCTANCE OF THE PUBLIC TO GIVE EVIDENCE FOR INVESTIGATION AND
PROSECUTION.
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