XN000022-1986-05-07 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1986

ANY UNUSUAL INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVITY WOULD BE PICKED UP BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY THROUGH ITS RADIATION MONITORING EQUIPMENT WHICH WAS BEING SET UP IN HONG KONG.

SIR JOHN NOTED THAT PROPER CONCERNS HAD ARISEN NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS A RESULT OF THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER.

+THERE WILL BE NEED TO STUDY CLOSELY FULL REPORTS, WHEN THESE BECOME AVAILABLE, AND TO APPLY ANY FURTHER LESSONS THAT CAN BE LEARNT,+ HE SAID.

INCIDENCE OF SHOPLIFTING CAUSES CONCERN

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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE STEEP RISE IN REPORTED CASES OF SHOPLIFTING OFFENCES AND IS TAKING A NUMBER OF STEPS TO COUNTER IT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, ADVICE WAS GIVEN BY THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU AND POLICE AT DISTRICT LEVEL TO DEPARTMENT STORES AND SUPERMARKETS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR SECURITY,

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR THOMAS AGREED ON THE NEED TO ENLIST THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF SHOPKEEPERS IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM.

+THERE IS MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE BY THE SHOPKEEPERS THEMSELVES TO COUNTER THE RISE OF SHOPLIFTING,+ HE SAID.

+SECURITY STAFF USE OF SPACE IN A WAY THAT FACILITATES SURVEILLANCE, MIRRORS AND ALARMS

TO DETECT THE THIEF.

-

ALL THESE WOULD MAKE IT EASIER

+AND AS IN ALL FIELDS OF CRIME THE GREATER THE CERTAINTY

OF DETECTION, THE GREATER THE DETERRENCE.+

IN ADDITION, MR THOMAS SAID, SPECIAL ATTENTION NEEDED TO BE GIVEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO SEEMED PARTICULARLY PRONE TO SHOPLIFTING.

+IN PART, MORAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND TALKS BY THE POLICE ARE DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE CHILDREN FROM SHOPLIFTING, HE SAID.

+YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING ARE USUALLY REFERRED TO PROBATION OFFICERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS, WHO COUNSEL THEM AGAINST COMMITTING FURTHER OFFENCES.+

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO SUGGESTED THAT PARENTS HAD TO ACCEPT A MAJOR ROLE IN DISCOURAGING THEIR CHILDREN FROM THEFT.

/THE FIGHT