XN000022-1992-01-15 — Page 16

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THE FOLLOWING IS A TABLE SHOWING THE STATISTICS FOR 1989, 1990 AND LAST YEAR.

YEAR

1989

1990 1991

NO. OF APPLICATIONS

6,324

5,109

9,271

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1992

RECRUITMENT AND WASTAGE

INTAKE

WASTAGE

1,237

1,568

862

1,611

1,246

1,299

LOANSHARKING

B

PRIME TARGET OF POLICE

MR

LOANSHARKING ACTIVITIES ARE A PRIME TARGET OF THE ORGANISED CRIMES AND TRIAD GROUP OF THE POLICE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING ΤΟ A WRITTEN QUESTION BY THE HON NO MING-YUM, ASPREY SAID THE POLICE HAVE INITIATED A STUDY INTO LOANSHARKING.

MR

IS

PARTICULAR FEATURES IN MIND INCLUDED MUCH LOANSHARKING LINKED TO ORGANISED CRIME AND TRIAD SOCIETIES ARE INVOLVED IN FRINGE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS INTIMIDATION AND DEBT COLLECTION,

THE STUDY IS SCHEDULED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION LATER THIS YEAR.

MR ASPREY SAID IT WILL

POLICY CHANGES ARE REQUIRED.

INDICATE WHETHER ANY OPERATIONAL OR

"THERE IS NO SPECIFIC CRIMINAL OFFENCE OF LOANSHARKING. THE TERM IS GENERALLY TAKEN TO MEAN LENDING MONEY AT USURIOUS INTEREST RATES.

"AS SUCH, LOANSHARKING IS AN OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 24(1) OF THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE, "MR ASPREY SAID.

THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT MONITORS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION AND THE POLICY TOWARDS LOANSHARKING ON THE BASIS OF THE PREVALENCE OF LOANSHARKING CASES REPORTED AND DETECTED.

MONEY

"WE

ALSO PUT OUT PUBLICITY TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC NOT TO BORROW FROM LOANSHARKS AND TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO REPORT LOANSHARKING CASES TO THE POLICE," HE SAID.

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, 223 LOANSHARKING CASES WERE REPORTED TO THE POLICE. FROM JANUARY 1, 1989 TO JUNE 30 LAST YEAR, 80 PERSONS WERE PROSECUTED.

/OF THE