XN000022-1982-05-19 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1982

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: REVIEW MADE IN FEBRUARY 1982 INDICATED THAT THE MONTHLY WAGE LEVEL OF $6 000 IN SEPTEMBER 1980 WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO AROUND $7 500 IN MARCH 1982. IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED TO RAISE THE WAGE CEILING FOR NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE ORDINANCE FROM $6 000 TO $7 500.

MR HENDERSON ADDED THAT IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT AFTER THE REVISION ABOUT 40 300 EMPLOYEES, AMOUNTING TO ABOUT TWO PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, WOULD REMAIN OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE - SIMILAR TO THE POSITION WHEN THE CEILING WAS LAST REVISED.

ROBBERIES WITH FIREARMS

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IN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30, THERE WERE 280 REPORTED CASES OF ROBBERIES INVOLVING REAL OR IMITATION FIREARMS IN 1982, COMPARED WITH 212 SUCH CASES IN 1981, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

OF THESE CASES, 29 IN 1982 AND 30 IN 1981 WERE KNOWN TO HAVE INVOLVED THE USE OF REAL FIREARMS, EITHER BECAUSE THE WEAPON WAS SEIZED OR BECAUSE THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT A BULLET OR PROJECTILE HAD BEEN DISCHARGED, HE SAID.

IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HO KAM-FA1, MR DAVIES ALSO SAID THAT IN THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 30, 27 CASES OF ROBBERIES INVOLVING REAL OR IMITATION FIREARMS WERE DETECTED BY THE POLICE (A DETECTION RATE OF 9.6 PER CENT) BUT OF THESE, 11 CASES WERE DETECTED IN WHICH REAL FIREARMS WERE USED (A RATE OF 40 PER CENT).

FOR THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS, THE COMPARABLE FIGURES WERE DETECTED CASES INVOLVING REAL OR IMITATION FIREARMS (A RATE OF 16.5 PER CENT) OF WHICH 12 WERE REAL FIREARMS (A RATE OF 40 PER CENT).

DURING THE YEAR 1980/81, THE SENTENCES IMPOSED BY THE HIGH COURT UPON THOSE CONVICTED OF ARMED ROBBERY AVERAGED BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. THIS WAS INCREASED TO A LEVEL OF 10 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT OR MORE DURING 1981/82.

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