XN000022-1994-01-21 — Page 11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1994

RECOMMENDATIONS ON WITNESS PROTECTION TO BE IMPLEMENTED

ON

THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMPLEMENT A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS WITNESS PROTECTION MADE BY THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WITNESS PROTECTION AND THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.

THE COMMISSION WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IN JANUARY LAST YEAR TO EXAMINE EXISTING WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS, FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF A MURDER TRIAL IN OCTOBER 1992 BECAUSE A KEY VIETNAMESE PROSECUTION WITNESS DECLINED TO GIVE EVIDENCE.

THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE SET UP AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THIS ISSUE IN LATE 1992.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) A CENTRAL WITNESS PROTECTION UNIT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS AS PROPOSED BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.

"IT WOULD NOT BE COST-EFFECTIVE FOR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE AND IMMIGRATION TO SET UP THEIR OWN CENTRAL PROTECTION UNITS AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE OF THEIR INFREQUENT NEED FOR WITNESS PROTECTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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"HOWEVER, WHEN THEY REQUIRE WITNESS PROTECTION, WE RECOMMEND THAT THEY APPROACH THE POLICE FOR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT ANY

THEY ADOPT ARE SIMILAR TO

BY THOSE ADOPTED

POLICE, HE SAID.

ARRANGEMENTS

+1

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDE:

THE

THE

(A)

ESTABLISHMENT OF A WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO HIGH RISK WITNESSES;

(B)

THE PROVISION OF SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR EACH WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME;

(C)

THE PROVISION FOR CHANGING THE IDENTITY OF WITNESSES;

(D)

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LINKS WITH OTHER AGENCIES OUTSIDE KONG TO DEAL WITH THE RELOCATION OF WITNESSES OVERSEAS;

HONG

THE (E)

ESTABLISHMENT OF PRACTICAL METHODS TO PROTECT A WHEN GIVING EVIDENCE IN COURT;

WITNESS

(F)

MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT A WITNESS INTERFERED WITH PRIOR TO GIVING EVIDENCE;

IS

NOT

(G)

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING WITNESS ASSURANCE AND ASSISTANCE

ARRANGEMENTS;

(H)

THE PROVISION OF OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES

INCURRED

BY

WITNESSES;

(I)

SHORTENING THE TIME BETWEEN PLEA AND EVENTUAL TRIAL

FOR NOT

GUILTY PLEAS;

/(J)

A REVIEW