XN000022-1984-10-25 — Page 6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1984

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+THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA HAS JUST BECOME A MEMBER OF INTERPOL AND SHE SHOULD BE MORE RECEPTIVE OR MORE RESPONSIVE NOW TO ANY CALLS FOR JOINT EFFORTS TO STAMP OUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES BETWEEN CHINA AND HONG KONG, SHE SAID.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NO LACK OF EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE BORDER AT PRESENT, BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM LAY IN THE RELAXED ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE TOWARDS THE MANUFACTURING OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS AND THEIR POSSESSION IN CHINA, THE USE AND POSSESSION OF GENUINE OR REPLICA FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WHICH WAS NOT DETERRED BY THE PENALTIES IMPOSED IN CHINA.

+TO FIGHT AGAINST THESE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES CALLS FOR EVEN CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES OF CHINA AND HONG KONG,+ MISS TAM SAID.

+THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE A FRESH APPROACH TO CHINA, AS A FELLOW INTERPOL MEMBER, TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS AT SOURCE, AND SHOULD AT LEAST AGREE ON A LIST OF CUSTOMS CONTROL PRIORITIES BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND HONG KONG BORDER CHECK POINTS, + SHE SAID.

SHE ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNOR TO ACTIVELY EXERCISE HIS POWER TO REMOVE OR DEPORT +HIT-MEN+ FROM CHINA WHO HAD COMMITTED SERIOUS OR INDICTABLE OFFENCES.

+THESE CRIMINALS MUST FIRST SERVE THEIR SENTENCES HERE BEFOR= REPATRIATION, SHE SAID.

+THIS IS THE TIME, WHEN SINO-BRITISH RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE THAN CORDIAL, TO COME TO AN ARRANGEMENT WITH THE CHINESE FOR US TO RETURN THEM TO CHINA.

+JUST BY REACHING SUCH AN AGREEMENT, OR REPATRIATING A FEW OF THESE CRIMINALS, THE DETERRENT EFFECT ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES HERE WILL BE VERY SIGN FICANT.

IN THE LONG RUN, MISS TAM SUGGESTED, HONG KONG SHOULD LOOK FOR PROPER EXTRADITION ARRANGEMENTS WITH CHINA, WHEN EACH HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OTHER'S LEGAL SYSTEM.

TURNING TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDER SCHEME, SHE SAID SHE WELCOMED ITS INTRODUCTION.

*THE OPPORTUNITY TO REHABILITATE YOUNG OFFENDERS OR OFFENDERS OF LESSER CRIMES BY ORDERING THEM TO WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY HAS MET WITH GENUINE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY,+ MISS TAM SAID.

+MY MAIN CONCERN WILL BE THE DEMAND ON FINANCIAL RESOURCES REQUIRED TO TRAIN PROBATION OFFICERS TO SUPERVISE THE OFFENDERS, THE SUBSEQUENT MANPOWER COMMITMENT OF SUCH SUPERVISION, AND THE SUBSIDIES THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED BY SUBVENTED AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE PLACEMENT FOR OFFENDERS, SHE SAID.

/IN VIA.