XN000022-1981-04-29 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1981

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THESE INTERVIEWS, ALTHOUGH TIME-CONSUMING, ARE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT AFTER PLACING A DISABLED PERSON IN EMPLOYMENT. HE WILL STAY IN THE JOB THAT SUITS HIM. INDEED, OF THE 214 SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS, OVER 80 PER CENT HAVE STAYED IN THEIR JOBS.

PROGRESS SO FAR, MR HENDERSON NOTED, SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF THE MORE DIFFICULT GENERAL EMPLOYMENT SIUTATION PREVAILING OVER RECENT MONTHS AND THAT MANY OF THOSE JOB SEEKERS HAD LITTLE OR NO VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SOME HAD A LOW LEVEL OF GENERAL EDUCATION.

TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR DISABLED PEOPLE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FROM THE SERVICE, IT WAS PLANNED TO OPEN A KOWLOON OFFICE IN 1981/82, PROVIDED THAT SUITABLE PREMISES COULD BE

BTAINED. FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 1981/82 .STIMATES.

SPECIAL MEASURES AGAINST ARMED ROBBERIES

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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HON LEWIS DAVIES TODAY WEDNESDAY) ASSURED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT PECIAL MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN BY THE POLICE TO COMBAT THE NCREASE IN ARMED ROBBERIES INVOLVING FIREARMS.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG, MR DAVIES SAID, HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DESCRIBE THESE MEASURES, SINCE TO DO SO WOULD HAVE OBVIOUS OPERATIONAL DISADVANTAGES AND WOULD IMPAIR THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

HE SAID THE NUMBER OF REPORTED ROBBERIES INVOLVING FIREARMS HAD INCREASED FROM 47 CASES IN 1977 TO 75 IN 1978, 133 IN 1979 AND 194 IN 1980.

IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN 62 REPORTED CASES. THIS COMPARES WITH 53 CASES FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1980, AND 61 CASES FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THAT YEAR.

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