XN000022-1986-07-09 — Page 32

-

29

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986

'LOOPHOLES' MUST BE PLUGGED ******

SOME +LOOPHOLES+ EXISTED IN THE TRIAD DOCUMENT'S OPTION FOR INTRODUCING A SCHEME WHEREBY MEMBERSHIP OF A TRIAD SOCIETY COULD BE RENOUNCED, THE HON ROSANNA TAM TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON THE TRIAD PROBLEM, MRS TAM SAID SHE ACCEPTED THE IDEA OF THE SCHEME BUT THE LOOPHOLES CONTAINED IN IT MUST BE PLUGGED.

ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT'S OPTION, ANY PERSON WHO WISHED TO RENOUNCE HIS TRIAD AFFILIATION THROUGH THE SCHEME MUST FIRST IDENTIFY HIS TRIAD STATUS, COMPLETE A FORM OF DECLARATION AND THEN RETURN IT TO THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES OR A MAGISTRATE, WHO WOULD DECIDE WHETHER THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE ACCEPTED,+ SHE EXPLAINED.

WHILE IT WAS STIPULATED THAT NO PROSECUTION WOULD BE MADE BY THE AUTHORITIES ON THE BASIS OF ADMISSIONS CONTAINED IN THE FORM ONCE SUCH A DECLARATION WAS ACCEPTED, MRS TAM POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSAL GAVE NO SPECIFIC GUARANTEE THAT THE DECLARER WOULD NOT BE PROSECUTED WHEN THE DECLARATION WAS NOT ACCEPTED.

+THIS LOOPHOLE IS UNFAIR TO THE DECLARER AND THE WORRIES IT CREATES WILL ALSO DETER THOSE WHO REALLY WANT TO RENOUNCE THEIR TRIAD MEMBERSHIP FROM COMING FORWARD, SHE SAID.

THEREFORE, SHE PROPOSED THAT AN AMENDMENT BE MADE TO PROTECT THE DECLARER FROM BEING PROSECUTED EVEN IF HIS DECLARATION WAS NOT ACCEPTED.

TURNING TO THE REINTRODUCTION OF A POLICE SUPERVISION SCHEME, MRS TAM SAID THE SUGGESTED SCHEME WAS STILL ESSENTIALLY A MEASURE OF SOCIAL RESTRAINT AND DID NOT CARRY ANY REHABILITATIVE FUNCTION. +ITS TARGETS, THEREFORE, SHOULD NOT BE THOSE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS RE-OFFENDERS MENTIONED IN THE DOCUMENT, BUT RECIDIVISTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES AND WHO HAVE A LONG CRIMINAL RECORD.

+I THINK WHAT THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS RE-OFFENDERS SHOULD RECEIVE IS THE KIND OF REHABILITATIVE SCHEME PROVIDED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OR OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,+ SHE SAID.

/SHE ALSO .**