XN000022-1983-04-27 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983

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+IN 1980, RECENT ARRIVALS MADE UP 6.4 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION AND ACCOUNTED FOR 6.8 PER CENT OF THE PROSECUTIONS FOR CRIME AND 6.1 PER CENT OF THE PROSECUTIONS FOR VIOLENT CRIME. IN 1981 THE PERCENTAGES WERE 8 PER CENT, 11.1 PER CENT AND 9.5 PER CENT. IN 1982, 9 PER CENT, 13.7 PER CENT AND 11.9 PER CENT, HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT EVADERS, WHO ENTERED ILLEGALLY SINCE DECEMBER 1980, ARE EXTENSIVELY INVOLVED IN CRIME, PARTICULARLY ROBBERY, PICKPOCKETING AND THEFT.

+OF THE 16 TO 30 MALE AGE GROUP WHICH IS THE GROUP MOST PRONE TO CRIME, EVADERS AND LEGAL ARRIVALS ARE APPRECIABLY MORE PRONE TO CRIME THAN ARE LOCAL RESIDENTS, HE ADDED.

TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE MEASURES TO ELIMINATE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND TO CONTAIN LEGAL IMMIGRATION. THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO TACKLING THE DIFFICULT QUESTION OF FACILITATING THE ASSIMILATION OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO OUR SOCIETY.

ON THE POLICE SIDE CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES ARE BEING DEVOTED TO THE PURSUIT OF RECENTLY ARRIVED CRIMINAL ELEMENTS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

DROP IN DROWNING TOLL ******

DROWNING ACCIDENTS AT PUBLIC BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS DROPPED FROM 11 IN 1981 TO THREE LAST YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR BRAY ALSO SAID THAT HONORARY LIFE GUARDS WOULD BE EMPLOYED BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT THIS SUMMER TO SUPPLEMENT THE REGULAR LIFE GUARD SERVICE DURING THE PEAK SWIMMING SEASON.

HE ADDED THAT AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE ANNUAL WATER SPORTS SAFETY CAMPAIGN WOULD BE CO-ORDINATED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT ON THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT.

+THE URBAN COUNCIL WATER SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION WILL AGAIN BE HELD THIS YEAR. THE WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE USED AS THE DESIGN FOR THE POSTER. COPIES OF WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED AT PUBLIC BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS AS WELL AS OTHER PROMINENT POSTER SITES,+ MR BRAY SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL LEARN-TO-SWIM SCHEME AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE SWIMMING CLASSES WOULD ALSO BE HELD TO INTRODUCE AND PROMOTE SWIMMING SKILLS AND SAFETY CONCEPTS.

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