XN000022-1986-01-23 — Page 4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1986

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* THE WORKING GROUP ON HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS CONTINUED TO WORK ON A DRAFT BILL TO INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS TO THE WATCHMEN ORDINANCE.

IT HAS ISSUED A CIRCULAR CONTAINING GUIDELINES TO ADVISE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, WHICH ARE THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS OF WATCHMEN, ON LETTING AND SUPERVISING CONTRACTS FOR WATCHMEN. THE GIST OF THIS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES SO THAT ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS' CORPORATIONS AND OTHER BUILDING MANAGEMENTS MAY DRAW ON THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPERIENCE.

* ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP FOR A PROPOSED

SCHEME TO EASE THE PROBLEM OF NUISANCE CAUSED BY VICE- ESTABLISHMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

UNDER THE SCHEME, THE COURTS WOULD BE ASKED TO MAKE PROVISIONAL CLOSURE ORDERS IN CASES WHERE NUISANCE WAS PROVED BY

RESIDENTS, AND BY SUCH ORGANISATIONS AS MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES OR RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATIONS.

THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL PREPARE FORMAL DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS AND WILL LIAISE WITH THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO WORK OUT FURTHER DETAILS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SCHEME.

* A SURVEY REPORT WAS CONSIDERED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE

ON UNRULY AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR OF PUPILS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. IT REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A GENERAL DECREASE IN THE LEVEL OF UNRULY AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR IN SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 1984 AS COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF 1983. CATEGORIES SHOWING AN INCREASE WERE +FAILING TO HAND IN ASSIGNMENTS/BR ING TEXTBOOKS TO SCHOOLS+ AND +POSSESSION OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS+.

THE STANDING COMMITTEE WILL KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE SURVEYS FOR JANUARY TO APRIL AND MAY TO AUGUST 1985 TO SEE IF ANY SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS MAY BE DRAWN.

PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO STUDENT GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING. THE STANDING COMMITTEE ALSO MONITORED CLOSELY STATISTICS ON CRIMES INVOLVING STUDENTS AND YOUNG PERSONS AGED UNDER 21. ON TRIAD INFLUENCE OR GANG ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS, THE POLICE, WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, HAVE CRACKED DOWN ON SOME GANGS WHICH HAD COERCED SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BECOME THE IR MEMBERS.

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* THE WORKING GROUP ON GANGS IS FORMULATING PROPOSALS TO

DEAL WITH PROBLEMS OF TRIAD INVOLVEMENT IN HAWKING, WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS AND SQUATTER AREAS.

THERE ARE