XN000022-1991-05-22 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1991

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MEASURES IN HAND TO CUT VIET CRIMES

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AND

THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN AND IS TAKING A NUMBER OF SECURITY SOCIAL MEASURES TO REDUCE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES BY VIETNAMESE GANGS IN NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH, MR ASPREY SAID CRIMES BY VIETNAMESE IN THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES WERE A CAUSE OF CONCERN TO THE GOVERNMENT.

MR ASPREY NOTED THAT MOST CRIMES COMMITTED BY VIETNAMESE WERE AGAINST THEIR FELLOW VIETNAMESE INSIDE THE DETENTION CENTRES AND REFUGEE CAMPS, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A WORRYING TREND OF GENERAL CRIME BY VIETNAMESE.

TO REDUCE SUCH CRIMES, A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAD BEEN AND WERE BEING TAKEN, HE SAID.

"THE SECURITY OF THE DETENTION CENTRES HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.

"

'ESCAPES STILL OCCUR, BUT THEIR FREQUENCY IS NOW LOW, THE

SECRETARY ADDED.

IN THE REFUGEE CENTRES, SFCURITY WAS BEING IMPROVED BY THE RECRUITMENT OF ADDITIONAL GUARDS AND CARETAKERS.

MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THAT THIS WOULD GIVE A GREATER DEGREE OF SECURITY COVERAGE AND LED TO A REDUCTION IN THE CRIME FIGURES.

MR ASPREY SAID THE SOCIAL MEASURES INTRODUCED IN THE REFUGEE CENTRES WERE THE FORMATION OF CAMP COMMITTEES INVOLVING THE VIETNAMESE, THE L'AMP MANAGEMENT AND A SOCIAL WORK GROUP, THE COMMUNITY & FAMILY SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (CFSI).

THEIR

"THE AIM OF SUCH COMMITTEES IS TO OWN CAMP MANAGEMENT AND BRING RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.

INVOLVE THE VIETNAMESE IN ABOUT A GREATER SENSE OF

"ONE OF THE MAIN AIMS OF THIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WILL BE

THIS PREVENT CRIME,' MR ASPREY NOTED.

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ADDITIONALLY, MR ASPREY SAID, MOVES WERE AFOOT то IMPROVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE CENTRES, AND THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES (ISS) WAS SEEKING FUNDS FOR EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF DRUG-RELATED CRIMES, THERE WAS AN ONGOING ANTI-DRUGS CAMPAIGN IN THE CENTRES WITH REGULAR PUBLICITY AND ACTIVITIES.

NR ASPREY NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WAS STEADILY REDUCING THROUGH RESETTLEMENT AND TRANSFERS TO THE REFUGEE TRANSIT CENTRE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO CLOSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE BOTH THE TUEN MUN AND KAI TAK REFUGEE CENTRES, HE ADDED.

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