XN000022-1982-01-03 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 1982

FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN STARTS IN ISLANDS DISTRICT

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THERE HAS BEEN A +WORRYING INCREASE IN CRIME IN ISLANDS, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RICKY FUNG, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

MR FUNG WAS LAUNCHING THE DISTRICT'S FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN.

HE SAID IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS (JULY NOVEMBER) THERE HAD BEEN A 35 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES IN THE DISTRICT COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. THE DETECTION RATE WAS 46 PER CENT.

+ THE INCREASE IS MOST WORRYING AND ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, MR FUNG SAID.

+I URGE THE PUBLIC TO TAKE MORE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTY, TO REPORT CRIME PROMPTLY TO THE POLICE AND I ALSO URGE PARENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OF THE DISTRICT TO JOIN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.+

MR FUNG BLAMED THE INCREASE ON MORE VISITORS, A LARGER POPULATION AND TO DEVELOPMENT.

THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME SHOULD START WITH FAMILY EDUCATION, HE SAID. PARENTS SHOULD TEACH THEIR CHILDREN TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD, TEACHERS SHOULD TEACH THEIR STUDENTS PROPER ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY AND THIS WOULD HELP TO STOP THE PROBLEM AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL.

HOWEVER MR FUNG SAID, GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERS SHOULD ALSO PLAY THEIR ROLE TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF LAW AND ORDER AND TO TEACH HOW TO PREVENT CRIME.

THE ISLANDS DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF MARCH. AMONG THE ACTIVITIES WILL BE SCHOOL AND MAC SEMINARS, TALKS, A JUNIOR POLICE CALL WEEK, A DRAMA COMPETITION AND VISITS TO POLICE STATIONS.

ALSO OFFICIATING AT TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE THE DIVISIONAL POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, MR MARK PELLY- THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR WONG CHING AND THE CHAIRMEN OF THE DISTRICT'S RURAL COMMITTEES.

PERFORMANCES BY THE POLICE BAND, THE POLICE DOG UNIT AND LOCAL SCHOOLS WERE STAGED AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY.