XN000022-1983-12-07 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1983

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TRIAD PROBLEMS BEING STUDIED

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THE PROBLEMS POSED BY TRIADS ARE NOW BEING STUDIED BY THE RECONSTITUTED FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, SAID THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS RESPONDING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO, WHO ASKED FOR A STATEMENT ON CURRENT TRIAD ACTIVITIES AND ON THE ACTION BEING TAKEN TO COMBAT THIS FORM OF ORGANISED CRIME.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THE QUESTION WAS NOT PARTICULARLY EASY TO ANSWER.

+THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE IN 1977 TOOK A CERTAIN VIEW OF TRIADS, THE RECONSTITUTED FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE IS NOW HAVING ANOTHER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE DECISIONS OF ITS PREDECESSOR WERE BASED ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT TRIADS WERE LESS SIGNIFICANT THAN THEY ARE NOW, HE SAID.

+THUS THE ANSWER I GIVE TODAY WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE THE ONE I WOULD GIVE AFTER THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE HAS CONCLUDED ITS DEL IBERATIONS. BUT ANY DIFFERENCES ARE LIKELY TO BE ONES OF DEGREE.

+ I THINK IT IS A WELL ESTABLISHED FACT THAT TRIADS ARE ACTIVE IN HONG KONG AND HAVE GOT THEMSELVES INVOLVED IN A CRIMINAL WAY IN A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITY, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE PÚBLIC, EXTORTION AND THE CONTROL OF VICE.+

MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN VARIOUS RACKETS, WITH THE MAIN SOURCES OF INCOME INCLUDING THE CONTROL OF

PROSTITUTION, ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND LOAN SHARK ING.

+ WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THEY WERE NOT ALSO INVOLVED IN THE NARCOTICS RACKETS, HE SAID.

ACTION AGAINST TREADS WAS TAKEN ON A BROAD FRONT AND IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GANGS TO OPERATE, HE SAID.

EFFORTS WERE MADE TO PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE TURNING TO CRIME IN GENERAL AND BECOMING INVOLVED WITH TRIADS IN PARTICULAR, HE REPORTED.

CO-ORDINATION OF THE FIGHT AGAINST TRIADS IS FULFILLED BY TWO SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.

THE CO-ORDINATING GROUP AGAINST TRIADS DETERMINES SPECIFIC PROBLEM AREAS AND RECOMMENDS ACTION.

THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON UNRULY AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS KEEPS UNDER REGULAR REVIEW ACTION AGAINST THE ACTIVITIES OF CRIMINAL GANGS IN SCHOOLS.

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