XN000022-1985-11-13 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1985

1

LA CHANGES CONSIDERED IN CLAMPDOWN ON TRIADS

****

A WORKING GROUP ON GANGS SET UP UNDER THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE HAS CONSIDERED CHANGES IN THE LAW TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT GREATER POWERS TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ORGANISED CRIME, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS ROSANNA TAM,

MR THOMAS SAID THIS WORK WAS PROCEEDING AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.

+EARLY NEXT YEAR, THIS COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE A DISCUSSION PAPER UPON THE LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE WORKING GROUP TO PROVIDE GREATER POWERS TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ORGANISED CRIME. THESE WILL NEED MEMBERS' CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, + HE SAID.

MR THOMAS SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE DEEP CONCERN THAT WAS BEING EXPRESSED IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT TRIADS, AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS DETERMINED AND DEDICATED TO DO ITS UTMOST TO ELIMINATE TRIAD RELATED CRIMES.

OPERATIONS WITH TRIAD TARGETS HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MOUNTED BY THE POLICE IN PAST MONTHS AND WOULD CONTINUE, HE SAID.

+FIRSTLY, THEY HAVE CONCENTRATED RESOURCES ON THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIMES INVOLVING SUSPECTED TRIAD MEMBERS. THEY ARE ALSO TAK ING MEASURES TO DEVELOP AN IMPROVED INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITY TO IDENTIFY RELEVANT CRIMES.

+SECONDLY, THE POLICE HAVE SOUGHT TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR TRIADS TO PROFIT FROM THE IR TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES BY UNDERTAKING OPERATIONS AGAINST PROSTITUTION, GAMBLING, RACKETEERING AND INTIMIDATION. +

MR THOMAS SAID SOME RESULTS HAD BEEN QUITE STRIKING, +LAST WEDNESDAY FOR EXAMPLE A SPECIAL TERRITORY-WIDE OPERATION WAS CARRIED OUT BY POLICE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE

+THIS INVOLVED 1 500 POLICEMEN WHO WERE MOBILISED TO CONDUCT SNAP CHECKS ON KNOWN CRIMINAL AND TRIAD HAUNTS, OPERATION LASTED ONLY SIX HOURS BUT 14 000 WERE CHECKED. ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED AND 25 PERSONS WERE CHARGED WITH OFFENCES RANGING FROM ROBBERY TO BURGLARY, ARSON AND NARCOTICS OFFENCES, HE ADDED.

AT A STRATEGIC LEVEL THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING THE EFFORTS OF THE POLICE AND THE GOVERNMENT'S OTHER DEPARTMENTS, MR THOMAS SAID, NOTING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS ASKED THE COMMITTEE TO GIVE A HIGH PRIORITY TO THIS TASK.

/:3 SAIL