XN000022-1991-12-14 — Page 7

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1991

WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER URGES YOUTHS TO HELP FIGHT CRIME

THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER MANN, CALLED ON YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE TERRITORY-WIDE FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN.

MR MANN MADE THIS APPEAL WHEN HE ADDRESSED HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE OPENING OF THE DISTRICT'S FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND TODAY (SATURDAY).

ON

"YOUNG PEOPLE CAN HELP PREVENT AND FIGHT CRIME BY BECOMING JUNIOR POLICE CALL (JPC) MEMBERS, TAKING PART IN CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND CO-OPERATING WITH THE POLICE IN VARIOUS WAYS.

"I HOPE THAT THROUGH TODAY'S FUN-FILLED CARNIVAL YOUTHS WILL BE MADE MORE AWARE OF THEIR CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, HE SAID.

MR MANN ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE DISTRICT'S FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC) FOR THEIR UNFAILING EFFORTS IN PROMOTING THE MEANINGFUL CAUSE.

THIS YEAR A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN PLANNED BY THE DFCC, ALL WITH THE MAIN AIM OF PUBLICISING THE ANTI-CRIME MESSAGE, HE SAID.

THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AN EXHIBITION, A COLOURING COMPETITION, A QUIZ, INSPECTION OF UNDERSIRABLE ESTABLISHMENTS AND TODAY'S CARNIVAL, HE ADDED.

ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CARNIVAL, THE DISTRICT'S POLICE COMMANDer, MR LAM KIN, SAID THE DISTRICT'S OVERALL CRIME FIGURE THIS YEAR HAD DROPPED 18 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE OF SIX AND NINE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY ON ROBBERIES AND BURGLARIES, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THIS "DOUBLE UPSURGE" WAS A WORRYING TREND.

MR LAM NOTED THAT THE POLICE, APART FROM STEPPING UP PATROLS IN CRIME BLACKSPOTS IN THE DISTRICT, HAD SOLICITED SUPPORT FROM JPC MEMBERS TO DISTRIBUTE ANTI-BURGLARY PAMPHLETS IN LOCAL COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.

THE DISTRICT COMMANDER URGED BUILDING MANAGEMENT STAFF, REPRESENTATIVES OF OWNERS CORPORATIONS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTERS TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE POLICE TO PREVENT CRIME.

WHILE APPRECIATING THAT THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF "YOUTH GANG" ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT, MR LAM WAS WORFIED ABOUT THE INCREASING INCIDENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE POSING AS TRIAD MEMBERS TO BLACKMAIL LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.

HE THEREFORE CALLED ON SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATION AND KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF THEIR STUDENTS OR CHILDREN SO AS TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING ASTRAY.

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