ENG-1996 — Page 349

18 PUBLIC ORDER

HONG KONG is one of the safest cities in the world. The overall crime rate of 1 253 crimes per 100 000 people and the violent rate of 241: 100 000 have fallen to their lowest in the past 15 years and 10 years, respectively.

The Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance has enhanced the Police ability to investigate organised and serious crimes. In order to assure witnesses in triad cases of their safety, effective witness protection arrangements have been put in place. The establishment of the Police Central Witness Protection Unit in April 1995 further enhanced the witness protection capability. The Witness Protection Bill introduced into the Legislative Council in July 1996 will establish a system for the change of identity of high-risk witnesses.

Fight Crime Committee

The Fight Crime Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, provides valuable advice and puts forward recommendations on areas of public concern and on measures to improve the maintenance of law and order.

In 1996, the committee continued to provide advice on measures to combat crime. Specific subjects considered included the police response to 999 calls, the improvement in report rooms and interview facilities in police stations, the personal encounter with prisoners' programme, and the role played by Education Department in the prevention of rape/child sexual abuse. The committee monitored the progress of the action plan to tackle juvenile crime, and the work of the Security and Guarding Services Industry Authority established on June 1, 1995, to consider and determine applications for licences by security companies. It also commissioned the City University of Hong Kong's research team to conduct a research on the effectiveness of the rehabilitation programmes for young offenders, launched a publicity campaign to fight youth crime, and held a Fight Crime Conference in December 1996 to foster community interest in the fight against crime.

To ensure that 999 calls were promptly answered, the committee considered the plans and strategies of the overall operation of the 999 call-answering system. Members were concerned that the police should be able to provide the optimum levels of service to the public.

As part of the government's drive to improve services to the community, the Police Force is committed to providing a more welcoming and user-friendly environment in police report rooms so as to encourage the public to come forward to report crime and to seek police assistance. The committee had provided valuable advice on improvements, especially on reporting procedures.

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