ENG-1994 — Page 344

PUBLIC ORDER

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and puts forward recommendations on areas of public concern and on measures to improve the maintenance of law and order.

The Royal Hong Kong Police has operational responsibility for crime prevention and detection; the maintenance of public order; traffic matters and the detection of illegal immigration, other than at entry and exit points.

The Immigration Department, through its control of the entry and exit points, and activities directed at discovering illegal immigrants, contributes significantly to the maintenance of law and order.

In anti-narcotics operations, the police maintain close liaison with the Customs and Excise Department. The latter also maintains links with overseas customs authorities and plays a major role in combating smuggling and enforcing the Copyright Ordinance.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption enforces the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and promotes greater community awareness of the evils of corruption.

The Correctional Services Department administers the penal system and runs correctional and rehabilitative programmes. The department also manages four detention centres for Vietnamese migrants.

The Fire Services Department gives advice on fire protection and provides fire-fighting and rescue services. It also operates the main ambulance service.

Fight Crime Committee

In 1994, the Fight Crime Committee continued to provide advice on measures to combat crime. Specific subjects considered included measures to counter organised and serious crimes, the regulation of the security and guarding services industry, the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, the Police Superintendents' Discretion Scheme and crime involving juvenile and young offenders.

An ad hoc group of the Legislative Council continued a detailed study of the Organised and Serious Crimes Bill. The Bill was introduced to the council in July 1992. Its objective is to effectively tackle organised crime, including triad-related crime, and other serious crimes through, among other things, enhanced investigative powers and provisions for heavier sentences. The Bill was enacted in October 1994.

The Security and Guarding Services Bill was introduced to the Legislative Council in November 1993. The Bill is aimed at regulating the security and guarding services industry through a licensing system to be run on two levels -the licensing of persons who undertake security work and the licensing of security companies. A Bills Committee was set up by the council in April 1994 to examine the Bill in detail. The Bill was enacted in November.

The Fight Crime Committee considered a proposal to revive the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, first launched in 1985, to promote the sense of civic responsibility in the community. The police had worked with concerned government departments to identify suitable districts in which to revive the scheme on a trial basis. Three districts Mongkok, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long - were selected for a trial scheme for six months, starting in late 1994. The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is based on the idea of self-help; namely, the mobilisation of the public to combat crime, especially burglaries in residential premises, through activities such as organising mutual aid groups and reporting suspicious activities to the police.

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