XN000022-1995-06-21 — Page 58

Reply:

(e)

Mr President,

(a)

40.

whether the Immigration Department has taken steps to prevent those who have come to the territory as tourists from begging; if so, what these steps are; if not, why not?

The Government has not conducted any surveys to find out the age, sex, nationality and methods of begging of beggars in Hong Kong.

(b) It is an offence to beg for alms, or to ask for alms in a threatening manner, under sections 26A and 26B of the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228). The Police may take enforcement action against people begging, but such action is normally only taken on receipt of a complaint and usually takes the form of a warning in the first instance.

(c)

The number of persons prosecuted under sections 26A and 26B of the Summary Offences Ordinance (Cap. 228), and the results of prosecution for the past three years are set out below:-

1991

1992

1993

1994 (Jan to Jun)

No. of

11

21

11

2

persons

prosecuted

Persons

9

19

7

1

convicted

% of

82%

90%

64%

50%

successful

prosecutions