XN000022-1988-01-27 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1988

RATE

IN 1985, THE CRIME RATE IN HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATES "DROPPED TO 68 CASES PER 10,000 PERSONS WHILE THE OVERALL HONG KONG CRIME ROSE TO 160 CASES PER 10,000 PERSONS.

IN

OVER 45 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S POPULATION WAS ACCOMMODATED PUBLIC HOUSING BUT ONLY 15.7 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIME CASES IN THE TERRITORY IN 1986 TOOK PLACE IN HOUSING AUTHORITY RENTAL ESTATES.

MR LIAO WAS REPLYING TO THE HON SELINA CHOW THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONDUCTED ANY STUDY INTO THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP AND WHETHER IMPROVEMENTS TO SECURITY WOULD BE MADE.

WHO ASKED ADEQUACY HOUSING

WHETHER OF THE ESTATES

MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WERE DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES DRAWN UP BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE POLICE.

FURTHERMORE, FEEDBACK ON BUILDING DESIGN WAS ALSO COLLECTED FROM TENANTS BY ESTATE MANAGEMENT STAFF FOR INCORPORATION INTO NEW DESIGNS WHICH INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF STRONGER DOORS AND METAL GATES, HE SAID.

"FOR THE OLDER ESTATES, EXISTING SECURITY FACILITIES HAVE BEEN UPGRADED BY IMPROVEMENTS TO LIGHTING, ANTI-BURGLAR BARS AND STRONGER PADLOCKS TO ALL SERVICE ROOMS. BLOCKS ARE REGULARLY PATROLLED BY UNIFORMED ESTATE CARETAKERS.

"AS TO HOME OWNERSHIP BLOCKS, ENTRANCE DOORS ARE MONITORED BY CLOSE-CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND ARE OPERATED BY A SECURITY DOOR-PHONE SYSTEM. THE BLOCKS ARE MANNED AND PATROLLED BY SECURITY GUARDS,"

MR LIAO EXPLAINED.

HE ADDED THAT HOUSING MANAGEMENT STAFF MAINTAINED CLOSE CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATIONS. SEMINARS ON SECURITY MEASURES WERE ORGANISED REGULARLY AND CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION WAS GIVEN IN ESTATE NEWSLETTERS.

TENANTS WERE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO FORM MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEMES TO MAKE PATROLS AND TO KEEP LIFT LOBBIES AND COMMON AREAS UNDER WATCH AT NIGHT, HE SAID.

MR LIAO EMPHASISED THAT TENANTS' AWARENESS WAS THE CRIME PREVENTION AS POLICE STATISTICS HAD INDICATED THAT A CRIME CASES INVOLVED OCCUPANTS WHO DID NOT TAKE REASONABLE TO SECURE THEIR HOMES.

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KEY TO LOT OF MEASURES