XN000022-1982-02-28 — Page 7

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982

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AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS THE DISCUSSIONS TO BE HELD ON MARCH 30 WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE, AND EACH GROUP WILL BE CHAIRED BY A SENIOR OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO PROPOSE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND FORWARD THEM TO THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (SCHOOLS).

A SEPARATE LETTER LISTING THE TIME AND VENUE OF THE DISCUSSION SESSION WILL BE SENT TO THEM AT A LATER DATE.

FIGHTING YOUTH CRIME. IMPORTANT ISSUE IN TUEN MUN

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FIGHTING YOUTH CRIME IS BECOMING AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN A FAST DEVELOPING NEW TOWN LIKE TUEN MUN, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

MR LAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT FIGHT YOUTH CRIME CARNIVAL.

+TUEN MUN IS DEVELOPING AT A REMARKABLY RAPID PACE, HE SAID.

+THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE MOVING IN ARE YOUNG.

+IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING ASTRAY AS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, TRANSPORT AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

QUOTING THE LATEST STATISTICS ON CRIME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR LAM SAID THE OVERALL NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES HAD DECLINED FROM 1 664 CASES IN DECEMBER TO 1 629 CASES IN JANUARY, A DECREASE OF 35 CASES.

BUT CASES OF A MORE SERIOUS NATURE, HE SAID, HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY DURING THE SAME PERIOD. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH CASES HAD RISEN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BY 68, WHILE THE INCREASE IN TUEN MUN HAD BEEN FROM 150 TO 159 CASES.

+IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IN OUR DISTRICT DESERVES MORE ATTENTION,+ MR LAM SAID.

+THIS IS NO LONGER MERELY A POLICE MATTER; IT IS TIME FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CRIME FIGHTING AND TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS BUILDING UP A HAPPY, COHESIVE AND HARMONIOUS COMMUNITY, +. HE SAID.

THE FOUR-HOUR CARNIVAL, ORGANISED BY TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT'S JUNIOR POLICE CALL AND TUEN MUN FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, WAS SPONSORED BY LOCAL LEADERS AND INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY TELEVISION STARS AND WELL-KNOWN SINGERS.

ALSO ATTENDING WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK.

MR LAU WONG-FATI THE DISTRICT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, MR JIM HURST; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CARNIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR LIU TSZ-YUEN; AS WELL AS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND LOCAL LEADERS.