XN000022-1983-04-27 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983

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TRIAD ACTIVITIES TACKLED IN SCHOOLS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY ALERT TO THE DANGERS OF TRIAD ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS AND POSITIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO COMBAT THEM, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN, MR HAYE SAID ALL SCHOOLS HAD BEEN TOLD HOW TO RECOGNISE THE SYMPTOMS OF TRIAD OR GANG ACTIVITIES, AND HOW TO COUNTER THEM, THROUGH VERY CLOSE AND CONSTANT LIAISON ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WITH LOCAL POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS, AND ON A REGULAR SEMINAR BASIS WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.

+SPECIFIC ADVICE AND ACTION IS AVAILABLE TO ANY SCHOOL REQUIRING IT AND TEACHERS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ONLY TO LIFT A PHONE TO GET IMMEDIATE HELP, HE NOTED.

MR HAYE SAID THAT IN THE LONG TERM THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN MEASURES TO PREVENT CHILDREN BEING DRAWN INTO UNHEALTHY PURSUITS OR ACTIVITIES BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.

HE SAID +WE ENCOURAGE A WIDE AND STIMULATING RANGE OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY SERVICE AND INVOLVEMENT.

+OF THE MANY SCHOOL-BASED CLUBS TWO DESERVE PARTICULAR MENTION - THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUBS (WHICH HAVE BEEN GOING SINCE 1979 AND WHICH NOW HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OF 72 000 DRAWN FROM 590 SCHOOLS) AND THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL CLUBS (WHICH HAVE ENJOYED PHENOMENAL POPULARITY SINCE THEY WERE LAUNCHED IN 1981 AND WHICH NOW HAVE 330 000 MEMBERS IN 247 SCHOOLS).+

MR HAYE SAID A FEW MONTHS AGO HE MADE A VERY COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT IN THE COUNCIL ON THE PROGRESS THE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE IN PROMOTING AN AWARENESS OF MORAL AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS.

+THIS. HIGHLIGHTED NOT ONLY THE MORAL EDUCATION OF PUPILS, BUT STEPS TAKEN TO REACH PARENTS AND TEACHERS IN ARRESTING AN APPARENT EROSION OF TRADITIONAL SOCIAL VALUES.

IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND OF AWARENESS THAT GENERAL AND SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES OF EDUCATION AND ACTION HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED AND WILL BE VIGOROUSLY MAINTAINED, THE DIRECTOR SAID.

INVOLVEMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IN CRIME

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THERE IS AN UPWARD TREND OF INVOLVEMENT OF RECENT ARRIVALS

IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY IN VIOLENT CRIMES,

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

/+IN 1980,