XN000022-1986-05-07 — Page 5

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TENESDAY, MAY 7

THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY CLOSE TTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO ALL THAT IT COULD TO DISCOURAGE SHOPLIFTING, HE SAID.

+THE EFFECTIVE REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM ULTIMATELY RESTS WITH THE VIGILANCE OF SHOPKEEPERS AND EDUCATION OF THE COMMUNITY. PARTICULARLY CHILDREN, AS TO THE TRULY DISHONEST NATURE OF THIS FORM OF THEFT, HE ADDED.

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COMPARED WITH 1984. THERE HAD BEEN A 70 PER CENT INCREASE

FROM 3 971 CASES IN THE NUMBER OF SHOPLIFTING OFFENCES LAST YEAR TO 6 752.

SAID.

*THE INCREASE IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE NEW TOWNS, MR THOMAS

ONE FACTOR FOR THE INCREASE WAS THE CHANGE OF POLICY ON THE PART OF INSURANCE COMPANIES WHICH WERE NOW PRESSING FOR LOSSES FROM THEFT TO BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE BEFORE THEY WOULD PAY OUT ON CLAIMS.

SECOND, THE NUMBER OF SECURITY STAFF DEPLOYED IN SHOPS HAD INCREASED.

THIRD, THERE HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF +SELF-SERVICE SHOPS. SUPERMARKETS HAD INCREASED IN NUMBER BY 20 PER CENT IN 1985 AND, MR THOMAS ADDED: IT IS IN SUPERMARKETS THAT 65 PER CENT OF REPORTED SHOPLIFTING CASES OCCUR.+

ADEQUATE STAFF AT CHILD RECEPTION CENTRES ******

STAFF AND FACILITIES OF THE FOUR GOVERNMENT CHILDREN'S CENTRES AUTHORISED FOR DETENTION UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE PROPER CARE OF CHILDREN WHO NEED TO STAY THERE,

SAID THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR CHAMBERS WAS REPLYING TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN ABOUT THE DEATH OF A TWO-MONTH-OLD BABY AT THE CHUK YUEN CHILDREN'S RECEPTION CENTRE.

+EACH CENTRE IS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN EXPERIENCED SOCIAL WORK OFFICER AND THEIR FACILITIES ARE REGULARLY INSPECTED BY JUSTICES OF PEACE, HE SAID.

BABIES AND CHILDREN AWAITING REPATRIATION WERE NORMALLY ALLOWED TO STAY WITH RELATIVES. +WHERE THE MOTHER IS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND IS HELD IN DETENTION, THE CHILD IS DETAINED WITH THE MOTHER,+ PR CHAMBERS SAID.

/+ EXCEPTIONALLY, A