XN000022-1986-07-09 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986

*WHETHER WE AGREE WITH ALL, OR SOME, OR NONE OF THE CONCRETE SOLUTIONS IT PUTS FORWARD, FEW OF US WOULD QUESTION THE GOVERNMENT'S SINCERITY AND STRENGTH OF PURPOSE IN SUPPRESSING TRIADS AND GANGS AND IN LISTENING CONSCIENTIOUSLY TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT THE DOCUMENT HAS GENERATED, HE SAID.

HE COMMENDED THE SECURITY BRANCH AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'> CHAMBERS FOR SENDING THE IR REPRESENTATIVES TO EXPLAIN THE OPTIONS TO ALL DISTRICT BOARDS AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES, AND TO LISTEN TO THEIR VIEWS.

+ IT IS AS A RESULT OF THIS HUGE EXERCISE IN CONSULTATION THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF THE VIEWS OF ALL SEGMENTS OF THE SOCIETY ON THE PROPOSALS,

+THE INTELLIGENCE AND THOUGHTFULNESS BEHIND THE DISCUSSION OF THE DOCUMENT IN THE DISTRICTS IS, I THINK, AMPLE JUSTIFICATION OF OUR BURGEONING SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND A CREDIT TO ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN IT, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT AT THE REQUEST OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP, THE SUMMARY OF VIEWS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES PREPARED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND SUBMISSIONS TO UMELCO, DR HO SAID IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE CONVERGENCE OF VIEWS AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE OPTIONS AS RECOMMENDED IN THE DOCUMENT.

HE OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO STAMP OUT TRIADS AND FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE DOCUMENT. AND POSITIVE REACTIONS TO OPTIONS PROVIDING FOR HARSHER TREATMENT OF TRIAD MEMBERS, HEAVIER FINES, THE USE OF ONE-WAY VIEWERS, BETTER PROTECTION OF WITNESSES AND TOUGHER MEASURES AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL VICE, GAMBLING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THERE WERE CONTROVERSY ABOUT SEVERAL ASPECTS. THESE INVOLVED POSSIBLE INFRINGEMENT OF CIVIL LIBERTIES, ABUSES OF POWER BY POLICE, AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 20 AND 22 OF THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, PROHIBITIONS IMPOSED ON ENTRY INTO CERTAIN PREMISES FOR THOSE CONVICTED UNDER SECTION 20 OF THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, AND THE POLICE SUPERVISION SCHEME.

HE FURTHER SAID THAT THERE WAS A GENERAL OUTCRY AGAINST THE OPTION FOR LIBERALISING GAMBLING, AND NOTED THAT IT WAS NO LONGER THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PURSUE THIS OPTION.

DR HO SUGGESTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD MAKE A FURTHER IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE OPTIONS AIMED AT TACKLING SOPHISTICATED ORGANISED CRIME AS CONTAINED IN THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE DOCUMENT AND CONSULT THE PUBLIC AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE PUBLIC DID NOT UNDERSTAND THESE OPTIONS IN VIEW OF THE VERY LITTLE DISCUSSION ON THEM,

/COMMENTING ON