TNAG-1725-FCO40-2438-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 123

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 20 January 1988

Other measures the Fight Crime Committee plans to introduce this year include a scheme of renunciation of triad membership which will be aimed again largely at young people, and the preparation of materials for use in schools, warning against the danger of being involved with triads.

In addition, the police will continue to pay particular attention to the problem of shoptheft in large department stores, shopping plazas and supermarkets. In this connection they will continue to liaise with owners and architects with a view to making these premises less vulnerable to shoptheft. The police will also continue to pay regular visits to schools with the aim of urging young people not to become involved in crime of any kind.

MRS. TAM (in Cantonese): Sir, recently the Tuen Mun District has set up a co-ordination committee to fight crime. Members of the committee would like the juveniles to participate in the fight against crime. Has the Government considered extending such a scheme to other new towns and, if not, what are the reasons?

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Sir, all the districts in which these new towns are situated have their own district fight crime committees and if these district fight crime committees want to set up a co-ordinating body as Tuen Mun has done, certainly in principle we would give them very strong support.

MR. ANDREW WONG: Sir, could the Secretary be more specific as to which new towns he is referring to when he quotes the crime figures in his answer? Could a breakdown of the figures be given for each new town and whether or not Sha Tin features the highest shoptheft cases?

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Yes, I have a detailed breakdown by the divisions in which the crimes have been committed. The leader in the pack I am afraid is Sha Tin, followed by Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan. Perhaps as far as shoptheft and indeed all these crimes are concerned, it would be easier if I gave my hon. Friend an answer in writing rather than standing here for the next 20 minutes reading out the figures. (See Annex I)

MR. YEUNG: Sir, when is the Government prepared to issue to schools relevant materials relating to the danger of being involved with triads?

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Sir, of course, we already are issuing some material to schools but our object is to get more advanced and sophisticated material as soon as we possibly can.

MRS. CHOW: Sir, among the 9 000 odd young offenders arrested in the last three years, how many are not first offenders and how many have previously been re- leased under the Police Superintendent Discretion Scheme and is it time to review the Police Superintendent Discretion Scheme?