TNAG-1447-FCO40-1931-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1986 — Page 176

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Although overall crime is now appreciably higher than it was in 1978, its remains at a plateau. Of particular note is the continuing decrease in violent crime in 1985, particularly robberies, the use of firearms in crime, serious assaults, and theft from vehicles and theft of vehicles. But the number of burglaries has continued to increase in recent years, with 228 of cases involving premises left unlocked. The number of shoplifting cases increased by over 50%. The increase certainly in part is due to the increasing number of supermarkets and department stores.

PART TWO

Chapter II - Publicity

The Publicity Sub-Committee is currently overseeing the implementation of the

'neighbourhood watch" scheme which forms a major part of the 1985/86 Prevent Crime Campaign, designed to mobilise the public to protect themselves against burglaries and to promote good community relations. It continues to use the slogan "Police and the people fighting crime together".

A comprehensive press release was issued on 4 June 1985 to publicise the Fight Crime Committee Report No. 4. Unofficial members of the Committee and senior Government officers appeared subsequently on television and radio programmes to talk on various aspects of the report. A shortened version of the report was distributed to the press and to the District Fight Crime Committees.

The Publicity Sub-Committee intends to introduce the second phase of the neighbourhood watch scheme in 1986/87 to cover more buildings. Studies are also being taken to examine the need to promote other crime prevention measures.

Chapter III - Use of firearms in crime

The Working Group on the Use of Firearms in Crime continued to work on further drafts of a Bill to ban the possession of the "prescribed class of imitation firearms" (high quality imitations of genuine firearms). The definition does call for subjective judgements, and this problem is being looked into. The working group will complete the Bill and seek advice from the Executive Council on whether or not the Bill should be introduced into the Legislative Council.