XN000022-1977-12-21 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1977

POLICE PATROLS IN COUNTRY PARKS

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POLICE PATROLS IN COUNTRY PARKS WERE ALWAYS INCREASED AT WEEKENDS AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY,

+ THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM, MR. DAVIES SAID THE POLICE PROTECTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC USING COUNTRY PARKS IN THE SAME WAY THAT PROTECTION WAS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC IN OTHER PARTS OF HONG KONG.

HE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT MEANS OF PROTECTION IN COUNTRY PARKS WAS BY POLICE PATROLS ON FOOT AND IN VEHICLES.

MR. DAVIES SAID THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ALSO PROVIDED FOREST GUARDS TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC AND TO ENSURE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COMPLY WITH THE COUNTRY PARKS REGULATIONS.

+THEY ALSO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF POLICE OFFICERS TO ANY SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THEY OBSERVED DURING THE IR PATROLS,+ MR. DAVIES ADDED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR POLICING COUNTRY PARKS ARE KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW BY THE POLICE AND THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS DEPLOYED ON PATROL DUTIES IS INCREASED AS AND WHEN THE NEED ARISES.

NO AVERAGE TIME FOR SUMMONS PROCEEDINGS

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE HON, JOHN HOBLEY SAID IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AVERAGE TIME TAKEN IN DEALING WITH THE WHOLE RANGE OF OFFENCES WHERE SUMMONS PROCEDURE WAS ADOPTED.

HE WAS REPLY ING TO A QUESTION FROM REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY ON THE AVERAGE TIME IN CASES DEALT WITH BY SUMMONS IN MAGISTRATES COURTS.

MR. HOBLEY SAID THE QUESTION RELATED TO THE WHOLE OF THE CONSIDERABLE RANGE OF OFFENCES IN RELATION TO WHICH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS WERE TAKEN BY SUMMONS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SUMMONSES ARE ISSUED ON COMPLAINT BY POLICE OFFICERS, AND ALSO BY OFFICERS OF MOST OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

HE SAID IF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS COULD DIRECT ATTENTION TO PARTICULAR OFFENCES, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION AS MAY BE AVAILABLE.

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