XN000022-1986-12-10 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1986.

HE SAID SHOP THEFT WAS A WORRYING ASPECT AS IT CONTINUED TO RISE AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM WAS REFLECTED BY THE FACT THAT OF THE 10 000 PLUS DELINQUENTS PROSECUTED LAST YEAR, ABOUT 35 PER CENT WERE CHARGED WITH THE OFFENCE.

+A HARD-HITTING ANTI-SHOP THEFT PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED TO EMPHASISE THAT THE OFFENCE COULD RUIN THE LIFE OF THE OFFENDERS, AND WE PLAN TO LAUNCH A SIMILAR CAMPAIGN IN CHRISTMAS TIME,+ SAID MR RAZACK.

SUPERINTENDENT RAZACK SAID YOUTH CRIME WAS A SOCIAL PROBLEM IN ALL MODERN CITIES AND HONG KONG WAS NO EXCEPTION.

HE SAID THE POLICE PLAYED A PREVENTIVE ROLE IN JUVENILE AND YOUTH CRIME, MOST OF WHICH WAS NOT TRIAD-RELATED ACCORDING TO STATISTICS.

+THINGS ARE NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS THOUGHT, SAID MR RAZACK, +IN A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1984/85 BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IT WAS FOUND THAT AMONG THE 440 000 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, ONLY 1 279 WERE ALLEGEDLY FOUND INVOLVING IN TRIAD ACTIVITIES.+

+MOST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S UNRULY BEHAVIOUR BORE NO CRIMINAL INCENTIVES BUT WERE LATER DEVELOPED INTO CRIMINAL ACTS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PROPERLY GUIDED,+ HE ADDED.

MR RAZACK SAID THAT THE LACK OF PROPER FAMILY OR PARENTAL GUIDANCE, STRONG DESIRE OF MATERIALISM, AND HEROISM WERE THE MAJOR FACTORS OF THE PROBLEM.

+TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE POLICE AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS HAVE MADE CONCERTED EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE YOUNG GENERATION FROM GOING ASTRAY AS WELL AS PUTTING THOSE ON THE WRONG TRACK BACK TO THE RIGHT PATH, + SAID MR RAZACK.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD SET UP A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES TO LOOK AFTER ALL ASPECTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

+FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEWLY-FORMED CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON YOUTH AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES PROMOTION COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE ON CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG THE YOUNG GENERATION AND TO ORGANISE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THEM.

+ AND THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON UNRULY AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS MONITORS RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS AND ADVISES ON POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES.+

ON THE PART PLAYED BY THE POLICE, MR RAZACK SAID THE FORCE, APART FROM ENFORCING THE LAW, HAD TAKEN ACTIVE AND POSITIVE PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN THIS RESPECT.

/+WHILE A