XN000022-1986-11-26 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986

10

NO SYSTEMATIC TRIAD INFILTRATION OF SCHOOLS

*****

THE PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS FROM RECENT INTERVIEWS WITH HEADMASTERS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS SHOW THAT TRIADS ARE NOT TARGETTING SCHOOLS FOR SYSTEMATIC INFILTRATION. RATHER, THEY PREY ON CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE AND ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THEM OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MR JE AFFRE SON STRESSED THAT HE WAS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER GANG AND BULLYING ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE INCIDENCE OF JUVENILES INVOLVED IN CRIME HAD INCREASED MORE THAN FOURFOLD SINCE 1975.

+ THE REASONS FOR THIS INCREASE ARE NO DOUBT MANIFOLD AND MANY WILL BE SOCIAL,+ HE SAID.

+ BUT ONE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO OUR SYSTEM OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION, THAT SOME ACADEMICALLY POOR STUDENTS WHO CANNOT KEEP UP WITH HONG KONG'S HIGH STANDARDS, TURN TO THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY TO GAIN SOME SORT OF PERVERTED RESPECT FROM THEIR COLLEAGUES.

+PRECISELY WHAT WE CAN DO TO COUNTER THIS TREND IS STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.+

REFERRING TO REHABILITATION, MR JE AFFRESON SAID DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE HELD WITH LEGCO MEMBERS ON THE SCHEMES OF RELEASING PRISONERS UNDER SUPERVISION, PRE-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT AND PARTIALLY SUSPENDED SENTENCE.

HE ALSO SAID DETAILS OF A TRIAD RENUNICATION SCHEME, WHICH THE PUBLIC STRONGLY SUPPORTED, WERE BEING WORKED OUT.

TURNING TO THE POLICE FORCE, MR JEAFFRE SON SAID BOTH MORALE AND DEDICATION WERE EXCELLENT. HE SAID THE FORCE WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE LOCALISATION POLICY DESIGNED TO RESULT IN THERE BEING MORE LOCAL THAN EXPATRIATE OFFICERS IN THE GAZETTED OFFICER RANKS BY THE YEAR 2000.

+IN PRACTICE SOMETHING VERY CLOSE TO THIS OBJECT WAS GOING TO BE ACHIEVED ANYWAY AND VERY FEW OFFICERS' CAREERS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY, HE SAID.

+ THE EFFICIENCY OF THE FORCE WILL NOT BE UNDERMINED.+

/MR JEAFFHESON