XN000022-1982-04-30 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1982

1

RIDDING MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS OF TRIADS

****

NEW LEGISLATIVE MEASURES ARE PLANNED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS FROM BECOMING FRONTS FOR TRIAD SOCIETIES OR FALLING UNDER THEIR CONTROL OR INFLUENCE.

THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTAINED IN THE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MANY HONOURABLE SPORTING ASSOCIATIONS FOSTER THE MARTIAL ARTS AND THAT THEY PROVIDE A HEALTHY RECREATIONAL PURSUIT AND FORM OF EXERCISE FOR MANY PEOPLE. HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF A CERTAIN PROPORTION OF MARTIAL ARTS GROUPS, THERE WAS A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH ORGANISED CRIME, PARTICULARLY INVOLVING TRIAD ELEMENTS.

→THE INTENTION, THEREFORE, IS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THE ELIMINATION OF THE CRIMINAL CONNECTIONS, WITHOUT DISCOURAGING BONA FIDE STUDENTS AND MARTIAL ARTS FOLLOWERS,+ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

AT THE MOMENT MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS WHICH REGISTER AS SOCIETIES UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE ARE SUBJECT TO LEGAL PROVISIONS TO PREVENT THEIR OFFICE BEARERS, OR A GROUP OF THE IR MEMBERS, FROM BEING OFFICE BEARERS OR MEMBERS OF TRIAD SOCIETIES,

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES INADEQUATE CONTROLS. IN ADDITION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, SOME MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS COULD EVADE THESE CONTROLS BY REGISTERING AS BUSINESSES UNDER THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.

IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS, THE BILL SEEKS TO BRING

ALL THESE MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THE AMBIT OF A STRENGTHENED SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS TO INCREASE EXISTING PENALTIES UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

UNDER ONE OF THE MAIN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL THE ORDINANCE WILL APPLY TO ANY SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE WHICH HAS BEEN SERVED A NOTICE BY THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES STATING THAT THE SOCIETY IS CONSIDERED NOT TO BE OPERATING SOLELY FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, SOCIAL OR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

THE REGISTRAR WILL BE PERMITTED TO REFUSE TO REGISTER, OR TO REFUSE TO EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, A SOCIETY WHERE AN OFFICE BEARER HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF AN OFFENCE THAT THE REGISTRAR CONSIDERS RENDERS HIM UNFIT FOR THAT OFFICE.

THE GROUNDS ON WHICH THE REGISTRAR MAY CANCEL THE REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION OF A SOCIETY WILL BE EXTENDED TO PREVENT REGISTERED SOCIETIES FROM BEING INFILTRATED OR CONTROLLED BY TRIAD SOCIETIES, OR BEING SYNONYMOUS WITH THEM, TO PREVENT PERSONS OF BAD CHARACTER FROM FREQUENTING SOCIETY PREMISES AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PREMISES ARE NOT USED FOR TRIAD RITUALS, TRIAD INITIATION CEREMONIES OR OTHER ILLEGAL PURPOSES.

/SOCIETIES REGISTERED