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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ADDRESS BY CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
MINUTESThe minutes of meeting held on 12 April 1994 were confirmed.
PAPERThe following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of April 1994.
QUESTIONS(1) MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):- On 9 March, a rape case occurred at the open-air podium of the Cultural Centre in Tsimshatsui. It is reported that since the place is too concealed in design, it has become a favourable spot for sex maniacs to hide and to commit crimes. The report has highlighted that the staircase on the second floor podium of the Administration Building is concealed, and the spiral staircase leading to the ground floor has many turns and is sheltered by a high wall. Therefore, should anything happen there, it may go unnoticed. In view of this incident, has the Council strengthened the security measures of the Cultural Centre by deploying more security guards on patrol duties, increasing the lighting of concealed corners or installing additional mirrors for vigilance purpose? It is said that security matters concerning the podium of the Centre are handled by the Police. Can the Council liaise with the local police station to request their assistance or the installation of additional police attendance books in order to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question concerns the night-time security of the outdoor areas of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
The rape case mentioned actually happened on the first floor podium of the Museum of Art. That particular area is closed after the opening hours of the Museum, and is patrolled by security guards at regular intervals.
For the other outdoor areas of the Cultural Centre complex, the Police has been taking care of their order and security. There is in fact a Neighbourhood Police Office in the Cultural Centre Piazza near the Clock Tower, which is manned at all times.
Subsequent to the incident, the Department has held a meeting with the Police to review the security arrangements.
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The Police has given their assurance that they will provide adequate policing to the area by means of routine patrolling, 24-hour operation of the Neighbourhood Police Office, spot-checking by police patrol vehicles, intensive overnight patrol between 11:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. and occasional patrolling by police guard dogs. Besides, they will conduct special crime sweeping operations at regular intervals to further enhance law and order. Regarding the use of attendance books, the Police has indicated that the practice has become obsolete and would only be considered for adoption at exceptionally strategic locations if necessary. The Department is nevertheless identifying two to three strategic points for placing of Police attendance books.
Furthermore, the Department has taken the following steps to strengthen the night-time security of the outdoor areas of the Cultural Centre:
(a) engagement of additional security guards to patrol the outdoor areas to complement the Police in deterring crime; and
(b) improvement to illumination of the outdoor areas by extending the hours after midnight when the lights are kept on, and exploring the feasibility of upgrading the lighting levels at particularly secluded areas.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department says that it will identify two to three strategic points for placing attendance books. I would like to know what is meant by 'strategic'?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): In terms of design, the Cultural Centre has some concealed parts. This is due to the fact that we had to take into account the building environment nearby during the planning stage. 'Strategic' means that placing attendance books will keep the police's presence effective at all times. Up to now, the Police have not identified the places yet. We hope that this can be done very soon.
MR. JUSTEIN WONG CHUN (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Apart from those measures mentioned by Mr. MAN, I wonder if the Committee has considered the possibility of arranging with the Police and the telephone company to install some emergency telephones at the area along the promenade. It is now too far away to find public phones. If telephones are available, we can encourage people to report crimes. I think emergency phones can help the public to call the police right away and will reduce the incidence of these cases.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Yes, we will be glad to consider this.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Chairman. I share the views of Mr. Justein WONG. Emergency phones are very common in Hong Kong. I hope that Mr. MAN will follow up on the matter. In addition, I have a query. In the answer it is said that there will be additional security guards to patrol the outdoor area. I wonder if this has been done. After
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of meeting held on 12 April 1994 were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the
month of April 1994.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):- On 9 March, a rape case occurred at the open-air podium of the Cultural Centre in Tsimshatsui. It is reported that since the place is too concealed in design, it has become a favourable spot for sex maniacs to hide and to commit crimes. The report has highlighted that the staircase on the second floor podium of the Administration Building is concealed, and the spiral staircase leading to the ground floor has many turns and is sheltered by a high wall. Therefore, should anything happen there, it may go unnoticed. In view of this incident, has the Council strengthened the security measures of the Cultural Centre by deploying more security guards on patrol duties, increasing the lighting of concealed corners or installing additional mirrors for vigilance purpose? It is said that security matters concerning the podium of the Centre are handled by the Police. Can the Council liaise with the local police station to request their assistance or the installation of additional police attendance books in order to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question concerns the night-time security of the outdoor areas of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
The rape case mentioned actually happened on the first floor podium of the Museum of Art. That particular area is closed after the opening hours of the Museum, and is patrolled by security guards at regular intervals.
For the other outdoor areas of the Cultural Centre complex, the Police has been taking care of their order and security. There is in fact a Neighbourhood Police Office in the Cultural Centre Piazza near the Clock Tower, which is manned at all times.
Subsequent to the incident, the Department has held a meeting with the Police to review the security arrangements.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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45
The Police has given their assurance that they will provide adequate policing to the area by means of routine patrolling, 24-hour operation of the Neighbourhood Police Office, spot-checking by police patrol vehicles, intensive overnight patrol between 11:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. and occasional patrolling by police guard dogs. Besides, they will conduct special crime sweeping operations at regular intervals to further enhance law and order. Regarding the use of attendance books, the Police has indicated that the practice has become obsolete and would only be considered for adoption at exceptionally strategic locations if necessary. The Department is nevertheless identifying two to three strategic points for placing of Police attendance books.
Furthermore, the Department has taken the following steps to strengthen the night-time security of the outdoor areas of the Cultural Centre:
(a) engagement of additional security guards to patrol the outdoor areas to
complement the Police in deterring crime; and
(b) improvement to illumination of the outdoor areas by extending the hours after midnight when the light are kept on, and exploring the feasibility of upgrading the lighting levels at particularly secluded areas.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department says that it will identify two to three strategic points for placing attendance books. I would like to know what is meant by 'strategic'?
THE HONOURAble Man Sai-CHEONG (in Cantonese): In terms of design, the Cultural Centre has some concealed parts. This is due to the fact that we had to take into account the building environment nearby during the planning stage. 'Strategic' means that placing attendance books will keep police's presence effective at all times. Up to now, the Police have not identified the places yet. We hope that this can be done very soon.
MR. JUSTEIN WONG CHUN (in Cantonese):---Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Apart from those measures mentioned by Mr. MAN, I wonder if the Committee has considered the possibility of arranging with the Police and the telephone company to install some emergency telephones at the area along the promenade. It is now too far away to find public phones. If telephones are available, we can encourage people to report crimes. I think emergency phones can help the public to call the police right away and will reduce the incidence of these cases.
THE HONOURAble Man Sai-ChEONG (in Cantonese):-Yes, we will be glad to consider this.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):—Thank
Mr. you, Chairman. I share the views of Mr. Justein WONG. Emergency phones are very common in Hong Kong. I hope that Mr. MAN will follow up on the matter. In addition, I have a query. In the answer it is said that there will be additional security guards to patrol the outdoor area. I wonder if this has been done. After
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