XN000022-1975-04-25 — Page 3

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1975

AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT SUGGESTED THAT STATUTORY PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR SOME FORM OF SUPERVISION FOR YOUNG EX-PRISONERS- AND THAT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR ALL POLICEMEN TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IN-SERVICE TRAINING AND SOME FORMAL GROUNDING IN SUCH SUBJECTS AS PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN GROWTH AND BEHAVIOUR.

THE SUB-COMMITTEE ALSO ACCEPTED, IN PRINCIPLE, THAT SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SHOULD BE PART OF THE SERVICE WITHIN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

IT SUPPORTED THE VIEW THAT THIS TYPE OF SOCIAL WORK +PROVIDES POSITIVE HELP TO CHILDREN IN A WAY WHICH NEITHER SCHOOL NOR PARENTS MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE.+

THE SUB-COMMITTEE ALSO DISPELLED RUMOURS THAT NEW ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG MIGHT BE DRIVEN TO CRIME AS A RESULT. OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE SECOND INTERIM REPORT SAID +NO EVIDENCE SO FAR HAS BEEN FOUND THAT NEWCOMERS ARE MORE PRONE TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ON THE CONTRARY, THE COMPARISON REVEALED VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS GROUP AND THE GENERAL POPULATION.+

THE REPORT ALSO REFERS TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT NOW BEING COMPLETED BY THE SOCIAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY INTO THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF OFFENDERS AND TO INDICATE CAUSES WHICH PRECIPITATE OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME.

IT SAYS THAT IN THE NEXT PHASE, THE SUB-COMMITTEE INTENDS TO CONSIDER INITIATING FURTHER RESEARCH PROJECTS.

AMONG THE SUBJECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOTIVES BEHIND UNNECESSARY VIOLENCE IN THE COMMISSION OF CRIME, YOUNG PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES AND VALUES AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS TOWARDS ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY AND A CRIME SURVEY TO ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER PEOPLE'S ACTUAL EXPERIENCES IN BEING CONFRONTED BY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THE REPORT CONCLUDES: +WE (THE SUB-COMMITTEE) CONSIDER THAT IT IS BY RESEARCH THAT WE CAN GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME (OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEM). THUS WE CAN ACHIEVE A STATISTICAL BASIS FOR THE SUB-COMMITTEE'S EVENTUAL FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. WE THEREFORE THINK THAT WE SHOULD SEARCH MORE DEEPLY FOR SOURCES OF INFORMATION ALREADY EXISTING SO THAT WE CAN MORE RAPIDLY REACH SOME CONCLUSIONS ON THEM IN THE HONG KONG CONTEXT.

+IN THIS CONNECTION WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR SOME FORM OF CO-ORDINATION TO BE SET UP BETWEEN THE SUB-COMMITTEE AND ORGANISATIONS UNDERTAKING RESEARCH IN THIS AREA, INCLUDING THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.+

NOTE TO EDITORS: COPIES OF THE REPORT ARE BOXED THIS EVENING.

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