XN000022-1993-05-26 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993

ON

"DISCUSSION IS THEREFORE UNDER WAY IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP PROGRAMMES FOR HONG KONG TO NEGOTIATE, WHERE THERE IS A NEED, ON ITS OWN BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WHICH CAN REMAIN IN FORCE AFTER 1997," HE SAID.

AIR

SOME AGREEMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONCLUDED IN THE FIELDS OF SERVICES, INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND PROTECTION, AND THE SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE OFFENDERS.

NO DETERIORATION IN LAW AND ORDER IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES

THE STATE OP LAW AND ORDER IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IS NOT DETERIORATING AND THE CRIME RATE THERE IS CONSISTENTLY LOWER THAN IN THE TERRITORY AS A WHOLE, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY},

AND

REPLYING ΤΟ A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR EASON SAID IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1993, THE CRIME RATE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WAS 12.4 PER 10,000 RESIDENTS. THE CORRESPONDING RATES FOR THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS LAST YEAR WERE 13.5 AND 13.8.

AFTER REVIEWING THE POSITION IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN 1992, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CONCLUDED THAT GATES AND CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED AS A STANDARD PROVISION IN EXISTING OR NEW RENTAL BLOCKS ON THE BASIS OF PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT, COST CONSIDERATIONS AND VIEWS EXPRESSED BY TENANTS.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS ENDORSED A PILOT SCHEME IN TSING YI DISTRICT TO BE CARRIED OUT IF THE TENANTS IN THE BLOCKS ARE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE INSTALLATION AND RECURRENT COSTS OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE PROVISION OF SECURITY GUARDS.

BETTER

OTHER MEASURES AGREED BY THE AUTHORITY INCLUDE ILLUMINATION, MORE PATROLS BY ESTATE ASSISTANTS, AND CLOSER LIAISON WITH THE LOCAL POLICE ON CRIME PREVENTION IN CONSULTATION MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND TENANTS' ASSOCIATIONS.

WITH THE

THE

THE AUTHORITY WOULD KEEP THE OVERALL SITUATION AND SITUATION IN INDIVIDUAL ESTATES UNDER REGULAR REVIEW IN CONSULTATION WITH THE POLICE, MR EASON SAID, ADDING THAT A SURVEY ON TENANTS' VIEWS WOULD BE CONDUCTED LATER THIS YEAR.

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