XN000022-1992-05-06 — Page 21

WEDI BO MAY 6,

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CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION SEEKS TO CURB CRI

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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND A DELEGATION OF HIS SENIOR OFFICERS ARE NOW IN CHINA FOR HIGH-LEVEL DISCUSSIONS ON CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION ON CRIME.

SMUGGLING OF WEAPONS IS ONE OF THE MAIN AREAS HE WILL BE

DISCUSSING.

ALISTAIR

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ASPREY IN A REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR ASPREY SAID THERE WAS NO SINGLE AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ON JOINT EFFORTS TO CURB THE SMUGGLING OF WEAPONS INTO HONG KONG.

"BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CO-OPERATION ON CURBING THIS AND OTHER HONG KONG AND CHINA.

CHANNELS ILLEGAL

FOR CROSS-BORDER ACTIVITIES BETWEEN

"THESE PROVIDE FOR DAY-TO-DAY CO-OPERATION IN ALL THE KEY AREAS OF CROSS-BORDER CRIME," HE SAID.

THE FIRST MEANS OF LIAISON WAS THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANISATION, COMMONLY KNOWN AS INTERPOL, OF WHICH BOTH HONG KONG AND CHINA WERE MEMBERS, THE SECRETARY SAID.

THIS PROVIDES HONG KONG AND CHINA, AS IT DOES POLICE FORCES ALL OVER THE WORLD, WITH A REGULAR CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH ONE POLICE FORCE MAY REQUEST THE ASSISTANCE OF THE OTHER IN COMBATTING CRIME.

MR ASPREY SAID THIS WAS REINFORCED BY CROSS-BORDER LIAISON THROUGH REGULAR VISITS BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POLICE то THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN CHINA AND VICE VERSA.

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AT THE WORKING LEVEL, MR ASPREY SAID BORDER LIAISON CONTACTS TOOK PLACE REGULARLY TO DISCUSS AND RESOLVE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OF CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION AGAINST CRIME.

THE CO-OPERATION EXTENDS TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN CROSS-BORDER CRIMES AND INFORMATION ON THE SMUGGLING OF ARMS OR OTHER CONTRABAND.

HE SAID IT ALSO EXTENDED ΤΟ AREA SUCH AS CO-ORDINATED OPERATIONS TO TACKLE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, SMUGGLING, AND NARCOTICS.

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