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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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The second part of the question enquires about actions to deal with duplication of locker keys for thefts by professional criminals. Anyone who is found processing duplicated keys will be referred to the Police for further investigation. However, in practice, it is very difficult to identify such persons. Nevertheless, the current practice is that staff in the changing rooms, as part of their surveillance role, will discourage and stop people from taking unnecessarily possession of more than one locker and the corresponding keys. Moreover, they have also been briefed to report to the pool management if they find swimmers abnormally and frequently returning to and/or staying unduly long inside the changing room. If necessary, the pool management will report the cases to the Police for follow-up action.
The answer to the last part of the question is 'yes'. It is possible to replace the existing outdated locker key system. However, the crucial point is the availability of a more secure (if not the most secure) form of locker system that will render key duplication difficult and costly. Action is in hand to identify lockers which are strong enough to resist undue tampering so that they will not be easily forced open. The Department is also searching for suppliers with locker systems which will only provide factory-made proprietary keys in order to reduce the convenience and likelihood of having duplication keys readily manufactured in the street. In fact, the Department is at present testing a new type of locker system at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
MR. DANIEL TO BOON-MAN (in Cantonese):--I have follow-up questions because I am not satisfied with the standard reply. Before and after theft cases, staff were on duty to keep watch in the changing rooms, as well as to guide swimmers on the use of facilities. After theft cases, we handed them to the Police. In fact, the focus of my question is: how we can effectively tackle these professional thieves' attempt to duplicate keys as well as to steal systematically. I would like the Chairman of the relevant Select Committee to provide us with theft statistics over the last three years before I go on to ask further questions.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): 1996 has been a relatively special year. Theft cases reported in 1996 have far exceeded the figures of previous years, with most of them occurring in the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
In 1993, there were 57 theft cases in swimming pools managed by the Council. There were 60 cases in 1994 and 58 cases in 1995. As at the end of July this year, the number stood at 163. The majority of them, namely 146 cases, happened in Kowloon Park Swimming Pool. The Department has been paying close attention to this and it is hoped that, through Police investigations, we will find out the root of the sudden increase of theft cases this year.
Page 195 of 498
Page 195 of 498
Page 195Page 196
Page 195 of 498
Page 195 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
191
The second part of the question enquires about actions to deal with duplication of locker keys for thefts by professional criminals. Anyone who is found processing duplicated keys will be referred to the Police for further investigation. However, in practice, it is very difficult to identify such persons. Nevertheless, the current practice is that staff in the changing rooms, as part of their surveillance role, will discourage and stop people from taking unnecessarily possession of more than one locker and the corresponding keys. Moreover, they have also been briefed to report to the pool management if they find swimmers abnormally and frequently returning to and/or staying unduly long inside the changing room. If necessary, the pool management will report the cases to the Police for follow up action.
The answer to the last part of the question is 'yes'. It is possible to replace the existing outdated locker key system. However, the crucial point is the availability of a more secure (if not the most secure) form of locker system that will render key duplication difficult and costly. Action is in hand to identify lockers which are strong enough to resist undue tampering so that they will not be easily forced open. The Department is also searching for suppliers with locker systems which will only provide factory made proprietary keys in order to reduce the convenience and likelihood of having duplication keys readily manufactured in the street. In fact, the Department is at present testing a new type of locker system at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
MR. DANIEL TO BOON-MAN (in Cantonese):--I have follow-up questions because I am not satisfied with the standard reply. Before and after theft cases, staff were on duty to keep watch in the changing rooms, as well as to guide swimmers on the use of facilities. After theft cases, we handed them to the Police. In fact, the focus of my question is: how we can effectively tackle these professional thieves's attempt to duplicate keys as well as to steal systematically. I would like the Chairman of the relevant Select Committee to provide us with theft statistics over the last three years before I go on to ask further questions.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): 1996 has been a relatively special year. Theft cases reported in 1996 have far exceeded the figures of previous years, with most of them occurring in the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
In 1993, there were 57 theft cases in swimming pools maanaged by the Council. There were 60 cases in 1994 and 58 cases in 1995. As at the end of July this year, the number stood at 163. The majority of them, namely 146 cases, happened in Kowloon Park Swimming Pool. The Department has been paying close attention to this and it is hoped that, through Police investigations, we will find out the root of the sudden increase of theft cases this year.
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