XN000022-1990-10-17 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1990

ATTACK

"1WE ARE NOW PREPARING NEW DRAFT LEGISLATION TO ORGANISED CRIME, AND WE EXPECT TO PUBLISH THIS LEGISLATION EARLY NEXT YEAR IN THE FORM OF A WHITE BILL FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION,

HE SAID.

MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT IF THESE MEASURES WERE ΤΟ BE SUCCESSFUL, THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY WAS VITAL.

"EVERYONE HAS A DUTY TO ASSIST THE POLICE BY REPORTING ALL TYPES OF CRIME AND, IF NECESSARY, BY BEING PREPARED TO GIVE EVIDENCE AS A WITNESS.

"THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MESSAGES OF THE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WHICH WILL BE LAUNCHED SHORTLY TO CALL FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME," HE EXPLAINED.

MR ASPREY NOTED THAT BECAUSE OF THE VERY NATURE OF TRIAD SOCIETIES, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY ACCURATELY THE LEVEL OF THEIR ACTIVITY IN OUR SOCIETY.

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"TAKEN OVER THE PAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES INVOLVING TRIADS HAS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, THE SECRETARY SAID.

BUT MR ASPREY SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A WORRYING INCREASE IN TRIAD-RELATED CRIME IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT CASES INVOLVING TRIADS ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT THREE PER CENT OF TOTAL CRIME LAST YEAR.

"BUT WE MUST NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE THREAT WHICH TRIADS POSE TO LAW AND ORDER IN OUR SOCIETY, AND THE POLICE ARE CERTAINLY NOT COMPLACENT ABOUT THE PRESENT SITUATION, + HE ADDED.

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SOME OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS ALLOW TO CARRY FIREARMS

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SOME POLICE OFFICERS, MAINLY THOSE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND CERTAIN OTHER SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL TASKS, WERE AUTHORISED TO CARRY FIREARMS WHEN OFF DUTY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JAMES TIEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR ASPREY SAID THIS WAS ALLOWED PROVIDED THE SECURITY OF THE FIREARMS WAS NOT COMPROMISED.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THERE HAD BEEN TWO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE USE OF REVOLVERS BY OFFICERS WHILE OFF DUTY.

/THE SECRETARY

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