XN000022-1992-12-30 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1992

THE ARGYLE AND SHEK KONG DETENTION CENTRES HAD ALREADY BEEN CLOSED, AND THE GOVERNMENT HOPED TO CLOSE OTHER DETENTION CENTRES DURING 1993.

ON LAW AND ORDER, MR ASPREY NOTED THAT OVERALL CRIME WAS DOWN FIVE PER CENT IN 1992 COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

"DESPITE SOME HIGH-PROFILE CRIME INVOLVING THE USE OF HEAVY FIREARMS, VIOLENT CRIME HAS ACTUALLY COME DOWN BY A SIMILAR PERCENTAGE, HE SAID.

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"I HOPE TO SEE THE EARLY ENACTMENT OF THE ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIME BILL, WHICH WOULD GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL WEAPON TO FIGHT CRIME.

HE ALSO PRAISED THE POLICE FOR THEIR GOOD WORK IN DOING A VERY TOUGH JOB, AND POINTED OUT THAT THE PACKAGE OF MEASURES то IMPROVE RECRUITMENT OF JUNIOR POLICE WAS WORKING, WITH RECRUITMENT UP 44 PER CENT ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

MR ASPREY SAID CAR THEFT REMAINED A MAJOR CONCERN.

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTRODUCED DRAFT LEGISLATION THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR CAR THEFT FROM THREE TO SEVEN SHOULD PROVIDE A GREATER DETERRENT EFFECT, HE SAID.

TO INCREASE YEARS. THIS

HE ADDED THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME SUCCESS IN COMBATING SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES, AND LOOKED FORWARD ΤΟ FURTHER LIAISON AND CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA TO COMBAT SMUGGLING.

ANOTHER AREA THAT REMAINED A MAJOR CONCERN WAS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, HE SAID.

THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED BY THE POLICE HAD UP BY 40 PER CENT IN 1992. THIS HAD RESULTED IN OVERCROWDING IN

GONE PRISONS.

**WE HAVE PUT FORWARD A PACKAGE OF MEASURES ΤΟ TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. THESE INCLUDE SUSPENDING EMPLOYERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM TENDERING FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACTS; REQUIRING TIGHTER WORK SITE SECURITY: WIDER PUBLICITY, PARTICULARLY IN CHINA; AND SEEKING THE CO- OPERATION OF WORKERS IN REPORTING THE PRESENCE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WORKERS.

MR ASPREY ALSO HOPED THAT TOUGHER PENALTIES WOULD BE IMPOSED ON EMPLOYERS OF 1LLEGAL IMMIGRANT WORKERS.

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