TNAG-1213-FCO40-1516-Crimes-and-sentences-in-Hong-Kong--including-death-sentences-1982 — Page 84

G.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL #M. Burton H

For information

(14.9.82)

NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

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XCCI(82)44 9

Copy. No.

INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS IN CRIME

of 80

ник 38013.

HKK

Background

истре

1/10 AF/10

On 10 August 1982, the Commissioner of Police undertook to give a report to the Council on the involvement of illegal immigrants and young people in crime. randum contains an assessment on the latter aspect, viz. involvement of young persons in crime.

2

This.. memo-

The involvement of young persons (aged 16 to 20 years) in crime has been a problem of major concern in recent years. The table below shows the number of young persons prosecuted since 1978 and the prosecution rate per 1000 of the young person population.

Table A

Year

Number of Young persons

prosecuted

Young persons

population

Prosecution rate per 1000 of young person population

1978

4,232

545,900

7.75

1979

4,858

574,900

8.45

1980

6,188

589,700

10.49

1981

6,602

585,500

11.27

1982

6,082

563,200

10.80

(annualized)

3

Crime involving young persons when expressed as a prosecution rate per 1000 of the young person population increased steadily from 1978 to 1981 but the problem to some extent has been contained during the first six months of 1982. The figures, however, are still high.

Comparison with Other Age Groups

4

The involvement of different age groups in

crime is shown in the following table.

Table B Prosecution Rate per 1000 Population

(July 1981 June 1982)

CONFIDENTIAL

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