XN000022-1985-05-15 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1985

THEY WERE ARMED WITH GENUINE FIREARMS AND PISTOL-LIKE OBJECTS AND WORE MASKS AND BULLET-PROOF VESTS. ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS LATER, THEY WERE LEAVING WITH WATCHES VALUED AT $1.7 MILLION.

WHEN THE POLICE MOVED IN TO BLOCK THEIR ESCAPE, AN EXCHANGE OF FIRE ENSUED IN NATHAN ROAD AND IN MODY ROAD, WHERE THE ROBBERS HAD PARKED THEIR GETAWAY VAN.

SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED IN THE EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE, WHILE TWO PASSERS-BY RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES FROM FLYING GLASS AND A WOMAN STAFF MEMBERS OF THE SHOP WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BY THE ROBBERS IN THE ATTEMPT TO TAKE HER HOSTAGE.

IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE INTERVENTION OF THE POLICE, THE WHOLE EPISODE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN OVER IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

SO, +CONSIDERING THAT THE POLICE HAD ONLY A PRETTY VAGUE IDEA OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN, THEY REACTED VERY QUICKLY, HE SAID.

THE GANG WAS PREPARED TO RESORT TO EXTREME VIOLENCE AND SHOWED A CHILLING DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE.

+THE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE GROUND DISPLAYED EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO APPREHEND THEM,+ MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE POLICE RECOVERED THE VEHICLES USED BY THE ROBBERS FOR THE IR ESCAPE AND FOUND SOME ARMS AND AMMUNITION IN THEM. THE POLICE ALSO FOUND ARMS, AMMUNITION AND ONE BULLET-PROOF VEST, ALL BELIEVED TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE CASE, NEAR MONGKOK RAILWAY STATION.

MEET THE PUBLIC SCHEME A SUCCESS

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SDA

MORE THAN HALF OF THE 2 623 CASES HANDLED UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARDS' MEET-THE-PUBLIC SCHEME DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR WERE SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PAULINE NG ON THE VALUE OF THE SCHEME, MR LIAO SAID: IN OTHER CASES WHICH COULD NOT BE RESOLVED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, FULL EXPLANATION WAS ALWAYS GIVEN TO THOSE CONCERNED.

/+BY AND