WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1994
17
SHOP EXTORTION REPORTS
THE
BY
FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW AND A REPLY SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
QUESTION: WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:
(A)
OF THE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF EXTORTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY BUSINESSES AND SHOPS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS; OF THESE, HOW MANY ARE TRIAD RELATED;
THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS RESULTING FROM THESE REPORTS; AND
(B)
OF
(C)
WHETHER
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO STEP UP PUBLICITY ACTION ΤΟ STAMP OUT SUCH ACTIVITIES SO AS
DETER CRIMINAL ELEMENTS FROM FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO VICTIMIZE INNOCENT BUSINESS OPERATIVES AND OWNERS?
ΤΟ
REPLY:
MR PRESIDENT,
THE
NUMBER OF REPORTS.OF EXTORTION MADE ΤΟ THE POLICE BY BUSINESSES AND SHOPS IN 1991 WAS 92, OF WHICH 63 WERE TRIAD-RELATED; IN 1992, IT WAS 108, OF WHICH 86 WERE TRIAD-RELATED; IN 1993, IT WAS 87. OF WHICH 59 WERE TRIAD-RELATED; AND IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF 1994, IT WAS 70, OF WHICH 57 WERE TRIAD-RELATED.
WE DO NOT HAVE STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS RESULTING FROM THESE REPORTS, HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ARRESTED IN RELATION TO THESE REPORTS IN 1991 WAS 60, OF WHOM 59 WERE CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL; IN 1992, IT WAS 67, OF WHOM 66 WERE CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL; IN 1993. IT WAS 101, Ald OF WHOM WERE CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL; AND IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF 1994, IT WAS 58, ALL OF WHOM WERE CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL.
THE POLICE CONDUCT REGULAR VISITS TO BUSINESS OPERATORS AND OWNERS, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO REPORT CASES OF EXTORTION AND TO OBTAIN THEIR COOPERATION IN COMBATING SUCH ACTIVITIES. THE GOVERNMENT CONDUCTS REGULAR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS AGAINST ALL TRIAD-RELATED CRIME, INCLUDING EXTORTION, THROUGH TELEVISION AND RADIO, POSTERS, LEAFLETS AND MOBILE DISPLAYS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN THEMES OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR.
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