XN000022-1990-09-22 — Page 5

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1990

CRIME SITUATION NOT OUT OF CONTROL: CHIEF SECRETARY

THE CRIME SITUATION IN HONG KONG IS NOT OUT OF CONTROL AND IT IS STILL A SAFE CITY, HOWEVER, THERE ARE THREE MAIN WAYS IN WHICH THE CRIME SITUATION CAN BE TACKLED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID

FORD, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER CHAIRING A MEETING OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, SIR DAVID SAID: "WE'VE HAD A VERY USEFUL DISCUSSION IN THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE ABOUT THE LEVEL OF CRIME GENERALLY IN HONG KONG, AND IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE PUBLIC CONCERNS WITH LAW AND ORDER.

"ON THE LEVEL OF CRIME, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT IN PERSPECTIVE. THE CRIME SITUATION IN HONG KONG IS NOT OUT OF CONTROL. HONG KONG IS STILL A SAFE CITY, AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT REMAINS A SAFE CITY.

"WE ARE IN NO WAY COMPLACENT ABOUT THE SITUATION. WE REALISE THAT THE PUBLIC IS WORRIED, IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE RECENT SPATE OF ARMED ROBBERIES AND ABOUT TRIAD ACTIVITY GENERALLY IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

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ONE OF THE THREE WAYS TO TACKLE THE SITUATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WAS BY POLICE OPERATIONS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

"WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO STEP UP THEIR ACTIVITIES IN TERMS OF ACTION AGAINST ARMED ROBBERIES AND AGAINST TRIAD ACTIVITIES.

"I THINK WE WERE ALL REASSURED TO HEAR AND TO BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE FORCE IS WELL ON TOP OF THE PROBLEM. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN HONG KONG IN HAVING A HIGHLY MOTIVATED, PROFESSIONAL, WELL-TRAINED AND WELL-EQUIPPED POLICE FORCE THAT IS CAPABLE AND ABLE TO DO THE JOB, AND WE WILL GIVE IT THE SUPPORT THAT IT NEEDS, SIR DAVID SAID.

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VACUUM;

"THE POLICE, HOWEVER, CANNOT OPERATE ONLY IN A

THEY CANNOT COMBAT CRIME ON THEIR OWN. THEY NEED PUBLIC CO-OPERATION AND PUBLIC SUPPORT, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN HELP THE POLICE GET MORE PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME,'

HE ADDED.

WAS TO PRESENT

ANOTHER ARBA IN WHICH THE SITUATION COULD BE TACKLED MAKE SURE THAT THE LAWS WERE ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

"THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS PRESENTLY REVIEWING THE LAW IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, IN PARTICULAR IN WAYS IN WHICH ORGANISED CRIME CAN BE DEALT WITH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING PROPOSALS FROM HIM VERY SHORTLY IN THAT RESPECT, SIR DAVID SAID.

"NOW, WHAT WE INTEND TO DO IS THAT WE BELIEVE CARRY THE CAMPAIGN FORWARD, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

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