XN000022-1984-07-11 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1984

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THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PROVIDES FOR THE IMPOSITION OF A $100 LEVY ON BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND.

THIS IS A HOLDING FUND UNTIL LEGISLATION IS FINALISED.

THE PROPOSAL IS FOR THE LEVY TO TAKE EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR.

MR HENDERSON SAID THE LEVY WOULD ESTABLISH A WORKING CAPITAL FOR THE FUND.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

GOVERNMENT TACKLES GANG PROBLEMS

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS TACKLING THE PROBLEMS OF GANGS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN HONG KONG, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON G.L. MORTIMER, SAID THAT THE BANDING TOGETHER OF YOUNG PEOPLE INTO GANGS WAS A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.

THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE WAS TO DO ALL THAT WAS POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE MORE DISTURBING ASPECTS OF THE PHENOMENON -- IN PARTICULAR THE VIOLENCE AND ORGANISED CRIME TO WHICH GANG ACTIVITY INVOLVING STUDENTS COULD LEAD IF IT WAS NOT CHECKED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

MR MORTIMER WAS REPLYING TO QUESTIONS FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI ABOUT THE NUMBER OF GANG FIGHTS AND THE ACTION BEING TAKEN TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INVOLVING STUDENTS.

MR MORTIMER SAID THAT THERE WERE NO SEPARATE STATISTICS FOR GANG FIGHTS INVOLVING STUDENTS. AN EXAMINATION OF ALL GANG FIGHTS REPORTED IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1982, 1983 AND 1984 REVEALED THAT IN 1982 THERE WERE ON AVERAGE 95 GANG FIGHTS PER MONTH, IN 1983 THERE WERE 136 AND IN 1984 THERE WERE 185.

HE SAID THESE GANG FIGHTS INVOLVED ALL INCIDENTS INVOLVING FOUR OR MORE PEOPLE, AND RANGED FROM SCHOOL BULLYING-TYPE ACTIVITY TO SERIOUS, PRE-PLANNED FIGHTS WITH WEAPONS,

MR MORTIMER SAID THAT IN DECEMBER IT HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WAS PREPARING TO RE-EXAMINE THE SITUATION IN THE LIGHT OF AN APPARENT INCREASE IN GANG AND TRIAD ACTIVITY. A WORKING GROUP ON GANGS HAD SINCE BEEN ESTABLISHED, CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, AND WAS REVIEWING GANG ACTIVITY, INCLUDING STUDENTS INVOLVEMENT, WITH A VIEW TO DEVISING AN OVERALL STRATEGY TO COMBAT SUCH ACTIVITY.

/HE SAIL