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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1994
HK: A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE IN
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COMPARED WITH OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION AND THE WORLD, HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE SAFEST IN WHICH TO LIVE, YET THERE ARE PARTICULAR AREAS THAT REQUIRE MORE FOCUS, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE FIGHT CRIME CONFERENCE, GOVERNOR NOTED THAT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, HONG KONG'S OVERALL CRIME RATE HAD BEEN CONSISTENTLY BELOW THAT OF MOST OTHER COMPARABLE CITIES.
LAST YEAR, THE LEVEL OF ROBBERY AND THEFTS IN THE TERRITORY WAS ONLY HALF THE LEVEL IN SINGAPORE, AND ONE-THIRD THAT IN TOKYO.
"THIS IS A RECORD IN WHICH THE POLICE FORCE, THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES AND THE COMMUNITY CAN TAKE REASONABLE PRIDE. BUT LIKE ALL RECORDS, IT IS SIMPLY A MARK. WE MUST AIM TO DO BETTER, MR PATTEN SAID.
ME
THE GOVERNOR CITED JUVENILE CRIMES, DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIME AND FRAUD AND WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES AS SOME OF THE PROBLEM AREAS.
TURNING TO THE JUVENILE CRIME, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE POLICE HAD ALREADY SET UP SCHOOL SUPPORT TEAMS TO ASSIST SCHOOLS, PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS AND YOUTH GROUPS TO FIGHT TRIAD ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS.
ON THE PROBLEM OF RISING DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEEOPLE, GOVERNOR SAID: "WE CANNOT TAKE ANY COMFORT FROM THE ABUSE IN HONG KONG JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE WELL BELOW OTHER CITIES.
THE
RATES OF DRUG THOSE IN MOST
"EVEN A SINGLE CASE REPRESENTS A WASTED LIFE AND TEMPTATION ΤΟ COMMIT CRIME TO PAY FOR THE HABIT."
"IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE WILL BE FORMULATING NEW IDEAS ΤΟ APPROACH THIS COMPLEX PROBLEM MORE EFFECTIVELY," HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND REPUTATION OF OUR BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, THE CAMPAIGNS AGAINST ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIME AND AGAINST FRAUD AND OTHER WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES MUST AND WOULD BE PURSUED VIGOROUSLY WITH NEW LEGISLATION.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO PRAISED THE PROFESSIONALISM
OF THE POLICE FORCE.
AND DEDICATION
THE
"THE POLICE FORCE MANAGEMENT HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP IN EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH THEY HAVE ENSURED THAT WELL TRAINED OFFICERS HAVE BEEN PUT ONTO THE BEAT AND ONTO THE BORDER, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO SHOWN LEADERSHIP IN THE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED TASK OF REVIEWING A LARGE ORGANISATION AND ITS OBJECTIVES, REDEPLOYING RESOURCES TO MEET NEW AND CHANGING NEEDS, AND RESPONDING TO PUBLIC ANXIETIES," HE SAID.
/LAST YEAR,