XN000022-1995-03-29 — Page 100

►

· 76.

Pickpocketing at border checkpoints

Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In view of recent complaints from local residents about their identity cards being stolen by pickpockets in the restricted areas of the Lown/Shenzhen border checkpoints, will the Government inform this Council:-

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the number of such cases reported in the past year;

whether the Government has taken any action on the reported cases; and

whether the Government has discussed with the relevant Chinese authorities regarding the measures to be taken to combat these illegal activities?

In 1994, the Police received 14 reports of pickpocketing in the Lowu/Shenzhen border checkpoints. Out of these 14 cases, only two involved loss of identity cards. In the same year, a total of 234 "Lost or Stolen" reports were made at the Lowu Police Post; however, we do not keep statistics on how many of these cases involved loss of identity cards, nor whether they happened in the border check point area.

The Police in Border District have formed a special Task Force to combat pickpocketing activities in the Lowu/Shenzhen border checkpoints since August 1994. Eight of the 14 pickpocketing cases were detected, with arrests made.

The Police have addressed the Shenzhen authorities, through both Interpol and the Border Liaison Channel, regarding pickpocketing activities at the Lowu/Shenzhen border checkpoints. The Police maintain close liaison with their Shenzhen counterparts on this matter.

End/Wednesday, March 29, 1995

Page 100Page 101