XN000022-1991-08-22 — Page 4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1991

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ORGANISED CRIME BILL "AN IMPORTANT NEW WEAPON AGAINST CRIME"

THE ORGANISED CRIME BILL IS AN IMPORTANT NEW WEAPON IN TACKLING AN INSIDIOUS THREAT TO LAW AND ORDER IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON, MR ASPREY SAID ORGANISED CRIME REPRESENTED A PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS THREAT ΤΟ LAW AND STABILITY BECAUSE IT SURVIVED ON FEAR AND CORRUPTION,

IN PARTICULAR ON THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE ΤΟ ENFORCE

AND

EXTORTION.

"ORGANISED

AND

CRIME IMPOSES RIGID DISCIPLINE ON ITS MEMBERS, IN PARTICULAR ON THE UNDERLINGS WHO DO THE DIRTY WORK, WHILE THE BOSSES ATTEMPT TO INSULATE THEMSELVES FROM THE CRIMINAL ACT AND HENCE THE THREAT OF PROSECUTION,' HE SAID.

"IT GENERATES ENORMOUS PROFITS WHICH ARE THEN IN MANY CASES LAUNDERED INTO LEGITIMATE BUSINESS, WITH THE LEGITIMATE AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THEN BOLSTERING AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

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ORGANISED CRIME WAS PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS ALSO BECAUSE IT AFFECTED ORDINARY PROPLE WHO COULD LEAST AFFORD TO RESIST THEIR EXTORTIONATE DEMANDS - HAWKERS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUS DRIVERS, AND THOSE LIVING IN SQUATTER AREAS.

MR ASPREY SAID ALTHOUGH MUCH ORGANISED CRIME WAS THE WORK OF TRIAD GROUPS, BY NO MEANS WAS ALL OF IT PERPETRATED BY MEMBERS OF CRIMINAL SYNDICATES OR SOCIETIES BOUND TOGETHER BY TRIAD RITUAL.

"THERE ARE OTHER NON-TRIAD CRIME GROUPS WHO ENGAGE IN ORGANISED CRIME FROM THE MOST SERIOUS SUCH AS TRAFFICKING IN NARCOTICS AND MAJOR FRAUD

TO THE MORE MUNDANE STREET LEVEL EXTORTION AND PROTECTION OF SHOPKEEPERS AND HAWKERS, HE SAID.

"

HE ADDED THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF ORGANISED CRIME GROUPS WERE PURELY FINANCIAL.

"WHATEVER MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINS AND POLITICAL OBJECTIVES OF TRIAD SOCIETIES IN THE PAST IS NOW HISTORY. THE AIM OF TRIAD SOCIETIES AND OTHER ORGANISED CRIME GROUPS IS CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION

FOR PROFIT."

MR ASPREY ALSO SAID THE POLICE HAD COMBATED ORGANISED CRIME VIGOROUSLY AND HAD A NUMBER OF NOTABLE SUCCESSES IN RECENT YEARS.

"BUT IT IS DIFFICULT UNDER THE LAW AS IT STANDS TO BRING то JUSTICE EFFECTIVELY THOSE WHO HEAD AND MANAGE ORGANISED CRIME SYNDICATES.

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THIS WAS WHY THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE ORGANISED CRIME BILL, WHICH AIMED TO IMPROVE THE AUTHORITIES' ABILITY TO PROSECUTE AND PUNISH THOSE INVOLVED IN ORGANISED CRIME, TO DETER ORGANISED CRIME THROUGH HEAVIER PENALTIES AND TO DESTROY THE FINANCIAL POWER OF CRIMINAL SYNDICATES BY PROVIDING FOR THE CONFISCATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF CRIME.

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