XN000022-1975-04-23 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1975

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CLOSE WATCH KEPT ON TRIAD ACTIVITY IN PRISONS

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SEVENTY-FIVE PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S PRISON POPULATION CLAIM ON ADMISSION TO HAVE SOME FORM OF TRIAD AFFILIATION OR GANG MEMBER- SHIP, STATISTICS FOR 1974 SHOW.

THIS PERCENTAGE REPRESENTS ABOUT 5,850 OUT OF THE TOTAL PRISON POPULATION OF 7,800, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. L.M. DAVIES TOLD COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

+THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT FEEL, HOWEVER, THAT THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE MAY BE HIGHER+, MR. DAVIES ADDED, NOTING THAT THREE PER CENT OF ALL ADMISSIONS HAD BEEN CONVICTED FOR MEMBERSHIP OF UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES.

+CONSTANT WATCHFULNESS IS MAINTAINED BY THE STAFFS OF INSTITUTIONS TO IDENTIFY PARTICULARLY ACTIVE GANG MEMBERS, AND WHERE NECESSARY THESE ARE SEGREGATED FROM THE MAIN PRISONER POPULATION,+ HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED ON TRIAD ACTIVITY WITHIN PRISONS WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE, INCLUDING ANY INDICATION OF SUCH ACTIVITY SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FINDING OF TRIAD WRITING.

+THE MAJOR DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING RELIABLE INFORMATION ON SUCH ACTIVITY LIES IN THE VERY HIGH DEGREE OF INMATE INVOLVEMENT, + MR. DAVIES SAID.

PROGRESS REPORT SOON ON SOCIAL CAUSES OF CRIME

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THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE SOCIAL CAUSES OF CRIME WILL PUBLISH ANOTHER PROGRESS REPORT WITHIN A WEEK.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. LI FOOK-KOW, IN A REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. LI SAID THE REPORT WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE STUDY OF YOUNG OFFENDERS BY THE SOCIAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY ALOTHOUGH IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE RESEARCH PROJECT WAS NOW IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PREPARATION.