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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986
IT WOULD ALSO LEAD TO MORE LOAN-SHARKING AND INTIMIDATION.
MR LAI COMMENTED THAT ILLEGAL GAMBLING WHICH OFFERED MORE ATTRACTIVE PAYOUTS WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN ITS ATTRACTION IRRESPECTIVE OF THE EXISTENCE OF LEGAL FORMS OF GAMBLING.
IN HIS VIEW, THE OPTION WOULD ONLY HELP TO BOOST THE INFLUENCE OF TRIADS.
+AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF GAMBLING IS UNDOUBTEDLY CONTRADICTORY TO THE OBJECTIVE OF BUILDING A HEALTHY AND STABLE SOCIETY, MR LAI MAINTAINED.
REFERRING TO THE OPTION PROVIDING FOR A POLICE SUPERVISION SCHEME, HE SAID THIS WOULD ONLY RESULT IN SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND CREATE A SENSE OF ANTAGONISM AMONG DISCHARGED CRIMINALS. MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RECOVER AS NORMAL CITIZENS AND BE RE-INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY.
HE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT SUCH A SCHEME MIGHT LEAD TO AN ABUSE OF POWER BY POLICE OFFICERS.
LIMITATIONS ON DISCHARGED CRIMINALS SO THAT THEY COULD NOT ENTER CERTAIN PLACES OR USE CERTAIN EQUIPMENT WOULD ONLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO FIND LOOPHOLES.
MR LA SAID THAT WHEN CRIMINALS WERE SENTENCED TO PRISON, IT MEANT THEY HAD TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THEIR DEEDS.
+THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO IMPOSE HEAVIER PENALTIES OR FURTHER DEPRIVE THEM OF THEIR FREEDOM, IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO CARRY OUT SUCH MEASURES WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN PRISON RATHER THAN AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED, HE SAID.
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AS FOR THE OPTION TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PERSON TO IMPLY, DELIBERATELY, THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF A TRIAD SOCIETY, MR LAI SAID THIS WOULD CREATE MANY ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE PROVISION.
ABUSE OF POWER BY THE POLICE COULD ARISE IN THE PROCESS OF PROSECUTION AS WELL AS IN THE COURSE OF ARREST ALTHOUGH PROSECUTIONS MADE UNDER THE PROVISION HAD TO HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
ANOTHER OPTION WHICH WOULD SWITCH THE BURDEN OF PROOF FROM THE PROSECUTION TO THE DEFENCE WOULD CONTRAVENE THE JUDICIAL SPIRIT IN HONG KONG.
MR LAI SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE A SCHEME FOR RENUNCIATION OF TRIAD MEMBERSHIP.
/BUT RE
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