XN000022-1986-07-09 — Page 9

ON

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986

HOWEVER, THE GROUP HAD MIXED VIEWS ON THE AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 20, 22 AND 34 OF THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, THE PROHIBITION SCHEME, POLICE SUPERVISION, AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE CRIME ORDINANCE AND GREATER USE OF ACCOMPLICE EVIDENCE, HE SAID.

*THE GROUP CONCURRED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE OPTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE GRAND JURY AND THE RACKETEER INFLUENCED CORRUPT ORGANISATIONS STATUTE SHOULD BE STUDIED IN GREATER DETAIL BUT OBJECTED STRONGLY TO LEGAL ISING MORE FORMS OF GAMBLING, HE ADDED.

TRIAD ACTIVITIES A +CANCEROUS GROWTH+

*****

THE CANCEROUS GROWTH OF TRIAD ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG MUST BE CHECKED, THE HON K.C. CHAN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON THE TRIAD PROBLEM, MR CHAN SAID HE SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE THE SPIRIT OF THE DOCUMENT, WHICH ALSO HAD THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC.

HE SAID THAT FOR THOSE WHO LIVED IN AN IVORY TOWER+, THE TRIAD PROBLEM MIGHT SEEM FAR AWAY, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE VIEW OF THE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO FELL PREY TO TRIAD INTIMIDATION AND EXTORTION.

MR CHAN NOTED THAT OVERSEAS THE TREND HAD BEEN FOR LARGE-SCALE CRIMINAL SYNDICATES TO USE THE IR ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH TO INVEST IN MANY LEGITIMATE ENTERPRISES AND, IN SOME CASES, TO ENTER POLITICS.

THEY COULD AFFORD TO HIRE THE BEST LEGAL AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, COULD CORRUPT LAW OFFICERS, AND EXTORT CONTRACTS AND CONTROL UNIONS.

+ IT IS THEREFORE NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY COULD PURCHASE OR CREATE PUBLIC OPINION AND EVEN BEND POLITICIANS WITH THE VOTES UNDER THE IR CONTROL, HE SAID, ILLUSTRATING THE NEED FOR HONG KONG TO CHECK THE GROWTH OF TRIAD ACTIVITIES.

REFERRING THEN TO THE TERM +HUMAN RIGHT+, MR CHAN SAID THIS HAD OFTEN BEEN MISUSED.

+THESE RIGHTS ARE FREEDOMS TO DO WHAT ONE SHOULD DO FOR THE GOOD OF ONESELF. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY BUT NOT TO DEPRIVE OTHERS CF THE IR RIGHTS,+ HE OBSERVED.

/HE SAID