XN000022-1985-12-04 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985

RIGHT-HAND DRIVE TO STAY

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NO CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO THE CONVERSION OF HONG KONG'S TRAFFIC SYSTEM FROM RIGHT-HAND DRIVE TO LEFT-HAND DRIVE, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR MACPHERSON SAID HE DID NOT SEE THE NEED TO PLAN FOR SUCH A CHANGE.

LOITERING LAW STRIKES +FAIR, EQUITABLE+ BALANCE *****

THE LOITERING PROVISIONS IN THE EXISTING LAW STRIKE A +FAIR AND EQUITABLE+ BALANCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN PREVENTING CRIME, AND THE RIGHT OF INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS NOT TO BE UNDULY. HARASSED IN THE PROCESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER C. WONG, MR THOMAS SAID THE POLICE BELIEVED THE PROVISIONS, WHICH HAD BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1979, WERE VALUABLE IN PREVENTING CRIME.

+ IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOW HOW MANY SERIOUS CRIMES HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY TIMELY ARRESTS ON LOITERING CHARGES BUT IT IS A FACT THAT ABOUT 18 PER CENT OF PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR LOITERING ARE SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED FOR MORE SERIOUS OFFENCES, HE SAID.

+THE POLICE CITE 18 RECENT CASES, IN WHICH 25 PERSONS WERE INITIALLY ARRESTED ON LOITERING CHARGES AND IN WHICH SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATIONS LED TO FURTHER CHARGES IN RESPECT OF 47 ROBBERIES, 23 BURGLARIES, NINE RAPES AND FOUR INDECENT ASSAULTS,+ HE ADDED.

MR THOMAS SAID THE USE OF THE PROVISIONS HAD PRODUCED NOTABLE REDUCTIONS IN ROBBERY AND BURGLARY FIGURES IN CERTAIN AREAS.

+THESE EXAMPLES INDICATE THAT THE PROVISIONS ARE, IN MR PETER C. WONG'S WORDS, 'PERFORMING A USEFUL FUNCTION',+ HE SAID.

MR THOMAS SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO CONSIDERED THAT THE POLICE HAD BEEN ENFORCING THE LAW IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER,

THE RELEVANT POLICE HEADQUARTER'S ORDER SET OUT CLEARLY THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH AN OFFICER SHOULD ACT, AND STATED THAT HE MUST WATCH THE SUSPECT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO OBSERVE A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR WHICH WAS GENUINELY SUSPICIOUS.

/IT ALSO