XN000022-1986-10-08 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1986

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STRONG DEMAND FOR FIRMER ACTION AGAINST TRIADS

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THERE IS A STRONG DEMAND IN THE COMMUNITY FOR FIRMER ACTION AGAINST TRIADS AND TO MEET THAT DEMAND THE GOVERNMENT WILL PRESS AHEAD WITH MEASURES WHICH HAVE RECEIVED WIDE PUBLIC SUPPORT.

THIS ASSURANCE WAS GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE 1986-87 SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT LAST YEAR HE HAD ASKED THE FIGHT CRIME

AS A COMMITTEE TO GIVE HIGH-PRIORITY TO ANTI-TRIAD MEASURES. RESULT A DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON CHANGES IN THE LAW TO COUNTER TRIADS HAD BEEN PRODUCED IN APRIL.

+THIS DOCUMENT GENERATED GREAT INTEREST AND DISCUSSION AMONGST THE PUBLIC, AND WAS WELL RECEIVED BY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES. THERE IS A STRONG DEMAND IN THE COMMUNITY FOR FIRMER AND MORE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST TRIADS, + HE SAID.

+THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO PRESS AHEAD WITH MEASURES TO PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION TO WITNESSES, AND TO IMPROVE PUBLIC

THESE RECEIVED EDUCATION ON THE EVILS OF TRIAD ACTIVITIES. WIDE PUBLIC SUPPORT.+

SIR EDWARD SAID THERE WAS LESS OF A CONSENSUS ON PROPOSALS FOR POLICE SUPERVISION AND LIMITS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF TRIAD OFFENDERS AND VIEWS EXPRESSED WOULD BE TAKEN INTO FULL ACCOUNT WHEN STRONGER MEASURES AGAINST TRIADS WERE BEING DEVISED.

REFERRING TO COMMERCIAL CRIME, SIR EDWARD ACKNOWLEDGED THE PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE COST AND LENGTH OF COMPLEX TRIALS. HE SAID THE REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIME, PUBLISHED IN JULY, RECOMMENDED THAT COMMITAL PROCEEDINGS IN SUCH CASES BE ABOLISHED, BUT THAT THE EXISTING JURY TRIALS SYSTEM BE MAINTAINED.

THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE SOUGHT ON THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

HE SAID THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION-RELATED COMMERCIAL CRIME HAD LED TO INCREASINGLY CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE POLICE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION. ONE THIRD OF THE ICAC'S INVESTIGATIVE STAFF HAD BEEN EMPLOYED ON SUCH CASES AND ADDITIONAL MANPOWER HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO MEET THESE HEAVY DEMANDS ON RESOURCES.

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT IN THE PAST YEAR MUCH THOUGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO INCREASING THE PROPORTION OF LOCAL OFFICERS AT COMMAND LEVELS IN THE POLICE FORCE.

+THIS OBJECTIVE MUST BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT REDUCING THE EFFICIENCY AND MORALE OF THE FORCE ON WHICH WE DEPEND FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER AND THE DAY TO DAY BATTLE AGAINST CRIME.+

/IT