XN000022-1984-12-04 — Page 3

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1984

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MORE IMPETUS GIVEN TO ANTI-CRIME EFFORT

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THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, IS CONTINUING TO CONSIDER WAYS OF COMBATTING CRIME.

AREAS INVOLVED RANGE FROM TRIADS AND ORGANISED CRIME, ARMED ROBBERIES AND THE USE OF IMITATION FIREARMS TO CRIME AND UNRULY THE BEHAVIOUR BY YOUTHS, COMMERCIAL CRIME, VICE ESTABLISHMENTS, SECURITY OF HIGH RISK PREMISES SUCH AS GOLDSMITH SHOPS AND CRIME PREVENTION.

THIS IS REVEALED IN THE THIRD SIX-MONTHLY REPORT WHICH THE COMMITTEE HAS JUST SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR. IT COVERS THE PERIOD FROM MAY TO OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

SIR PHILIP SAID TODAY (TUESDAY), THE COMMITTEE WAS RECONSTITUTED IN MAY LAST YEAR TO GIVE ADDED IMPETUS TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME, AND TO PULL TOGETHER THE WORK OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.

+WE HAVE SET UP A NUMBER OF ACTIVE AND RESOURCEFUL SUB- COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS TO PROBE INTO SPECIFIC AREAS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

+GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES ARE NOW WORKING IN A MUCH MORE CO-ORDINATED WAY IN TACKLING THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY CRIME. WHAT WE NEED NOW IS ALL-OUT PUBLIC CO-OPERATION TO SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS AND TO HELP THE POLICE ON THE GROUND.+

APART FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF FOUR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, MR CHARLES YEUNG, DR HO KAM-FAI MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AND MRS SOPHIA HO, TOGETHER WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE SECRETARIES FOR SECURITY, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, HEALTH AND WELFARE, AND EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.

SIR PHILIP ALSO PRAISED THE WORK DONE BY THE 343 MEMBERS OF THE 19 DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

+DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES HAVE A MOST IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN IDENTIFYING LOCAL CRIME BLACK-SPOTS IN PUTTING FORWARD CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS TO HELP THE POLICE CONTROL CRIME IN THEIR OWN DISTRICTS; AND IN PROVIDING FEED-BACK TO THE MAIN COMMITTEE.

+I HAVE BEEN MOST IMPRESSED BY THE WAY THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THIS YEAR'S MAJOR CRIME PREVENTION CAMPAIGN AND BY THE ENTHUSIASTIC WAY THEY HELP TO FIGHT CRIME IN DISTRICTS, HE SAID.

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