XN000022-1973-09-20 — Page 2

Thursday, September 20, 1973

NEW BREED OF CRIMINALS EMERGING

Parents' Uncaring Attitude Criticised

Hong Kong is breeding a different type of criminal which must and

will be catered for, the Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. T.G. Garner, said

today.

In a speech to the Rotary Club of Kowloon, he also criticised

selfish and irresponsible parents of many young offenders.

He said young criminals in Hong Kong today ganged together and

acted in a manner "which surpasses all norms even in the known criminal

field."

As a result, when sent to prison these young offenders were to

some extent ostracised by older prisoners because of their way of life.

He described the so-called young thugs as "basically weaklings,"

and said they got their strength through joining gangs and quasi-triad

societies.

Since 1965 the number of offenders under the age of 21 had grown

from 5.21 per cent to 26.41 per cent. Of today's 6,282 prisoners, 1,659

were under 21.

Mr. Garner said parents of young offenders often seemed unconcerned

that their sons or daughters might have committed a violent crime.

"Too often they are not so much interested in what their child

has done but only that he or she has been taken out of circulation and

placed in confinement which has resulted in the loss of a source of income

to the family," he said.

"The attitude