XN000022-1983-05-18 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1983

**IT WAS, AND STILL IS, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS EVER LAUNCHED BY GOVERNMENT. WITHIN THREE MONTHS THE UPSURGE HAD BEEN HALTED AND SINCE JULY 1981 THE NUMBER OF JUVENILES PROSECUTED FOR CRIME HAS CONTINUED TO FALL STEADILY.

**SO MUCH SO, THAT THE FIGURES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR SHOW A 35 PER CENT DECREASE WHEN COMPARED WITH THOSE FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1981 - THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE LAUNCHING OF THE CAMPAIGN.

**THIS YEAR WE ARE CONTINUING THE CAMPAIGNS - WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS BEING GIVEN TO REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME IN THE SLIGHTLY OLDER GROUP -- THE 16 TO 20 YEAR OLDS. AND, ONCE AGAIN, IT WILL BE YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES WHO WILL BE GIVEN THE TASK OF DEVISING WAYS AND MEANS BY WHICH THEY CAN ENCOURAGE OTHER YOUNGSTERS TO STEER CLEAR OF THE PATH THAT LEADS TO CRIME AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, TO MISERY AND RUINED LIFE, ** MR RENNIE SAID.

HE REVEALED THAT IN 1982, A TOTAL OF 9 930 PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 WERE PROSECUTED FOR CRIME. THIS REPRESENTS 0.5 PER CENT (OR 1 IN EVERY 150) OF THE TOTAL POPULATION WITHIN THAT AGE GROUP.

**I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE AUTHORITIES IN AREAS OF SIMILAR SIZE AND POPULATION DENSITY WOULD WELCOME SUCH FIGURES AND CONSIDER THEM A SUCCESS. NONETHELESS, IT IS RIGHT THAT HERE IN HONG KONG WE SHOULD NOT BE SATISFIED WITH SUCH RESULTS AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO REDUCE YOUTH CRIME TO MINIMAL PROPORTIONS, ** HE SAID.

MR RENNIE ALSO REFUTED COMPLAINTS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NOW WERE RECALCITRANT, AVARICIOUS AND TOO MATERIALISTIC. HE OPINED THAT THE SITUATION WAS MAINLY CAUSED BY ADULTS WHO OPTED OUT THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES TO TEACH AND EDUCATE IN THE RIGHT WAYS.

**YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN ANY SOCIETY -- AFTER ALL THEY ARE THE CITIZENS OF TOMORROW -- AND I BELIEVE THIS TO BE EVEN MORE SO IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG, ''HE CONCLUDED.

SENIOR DIRECTORATE APPOINTMENTS ****

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SENIOR DIRECTORATE APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN EFFECT SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN NOVEMBER AND JANUARY, WITH THE EFFECTIVE DATES IN BRACKETS:

* SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY

MR E.P. HO (FEBRUARY 7, 83)

* SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE ·

MR HENRY CHING (MAY 2, 83)

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* SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER MR KENNETH TOPLEY (FEBRUARY 1, 83)

COMMISSIONER FOR