XN000022-1987-03-25 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987

+SINCE THEY KNOW THEIR AREA WELL AND ARE IN RADIO CONTACT WITH MANAGEMENT CENTRES, THEY CAN HELP THE POLICE TO LOOK FOR THE CRIMINALS INVOLVED, + HE SAID.

MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT THAT A WORKING GROUP ON COUNTRYSIDE FIRES AND SECURITY, WHICH INCLUDED THE POLICE, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVIL AID SERVICES MET EVERY TWO MONTHS.

*THE WORKING GROUP IS A USEFUL FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS TO PROMOTE SECURITY IN OUR COUNTRY PARKS, + HE NOTED.

MONEY LENDING LAW WORKING WELL

*****

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE CONDUCTED LAST YEAR CONCLUDED THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS GENERALLY SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING LOAN SHARK ING AND LENDING AT USURIOUS RATES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+IN PARTICULAR, THERE WAS SEEN TO BE NO NEED TO INCREASE THE PENALITIES PROVIDED UNDER THE ORDINANCE, HE SAID.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR JACOBS SAID, HOWEVER, AN AMENDMENT BILL WHICH WOULD PROPOSE SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE TO IMPROVE ITS OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION WAS NOW IN THE FINAL DRAFTING STAGES.

THE AMENDMENTS WOULD ALSO CONTAIN PROPOSALS DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE POLICE IN CONTROLLING AND INVESTIGATING MONEY LENDERS, HE ADDED.

+ IN PARTICULAR, HE SAID, THE BILL WILL PROPOSE THAT THE POLICE BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO ENTER AND SEARCH A MONEY LENDER'S PREMISES AND TO SEIZE DOCUMENTS, AND THAT THE TIME LIMIT FOR INSTITUTING PROSECUTIONS FOR ALL OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE BE EXTENDED FROM SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS.

REGARDING STATISTICS ON PROSECUTIONS, MR JACOBS SAID THE NUMBER OF PERSONS PROSECUTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE INCREASED FROM AN AVERAGE OF TWO PER MONTH BETWEEN JANUARY 1983 AND APRIL 1984 TO JUST UNDER SIX PER MONTH BETWEEN MAY 1984 AND FEBRUARY 1987.

ON THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS, MR JACOBS SAID THAT THEY WERE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM JULY 1986 ONWARD.

HE SAID THAT OUT OF A TOTAL OF 37 PERSONS TRIED ON THE PRINCIPAL CHARGE OF LENDING MONEY WITHOUT A LICENCE OR LENDING MONEY AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF INTEREST IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THERE WERE 14 CONVICTIONS REPRESENTING A CONVICTION RATE OF ABOUT 38 PER CENT.

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