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Speech by the Secretary for Security

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Following is the full text of the speech entitled "How Security Helps Business" by the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, at the luncheon meeting of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors today (June 8):

Mr Liu, Mr Lau, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am greatly honoured today to have the chance to address this distinguished audience made up of Hong Kong's leading surveyors. I am particularly flattered that you have seen fit to invite me to speak, although my portfolio does not at first sight appear to have much to do with your profession. But I am glad you did, as good security policies underline Hong Kong's success in a wide range of areas. Today, at the risk of blowing our trumpet, I want to take the opportunity to tell you about ten ways in which good security policies and practices can help business.

Fighting Crime and Maintaining Law and Order

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A top priority of Security Bureau and the disciplined services under its purview is to keep Hong Kong a safe and secure city. There is little doubt that we have achieved this objective. Hong Kong's overall crime rate in 2000 (1 137 cases per 100 000 population), is roughly at the same level as that of Singapore and lower than that in Tokyo, Toronto, London, New York and many other metropolitan cities. The crime detection rate increased from 42.5 per cent in 1999 to 43.6 per cent in 2000. In the first four months of this year, the overall crime rate and the overall violent crime rate continued to drop by 8.4 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.

Judging from a survey report recently released by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, businessmen in Asia find that Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world. According to this report, Hong Kong is the most highly rated Asian city in terms of the 'Quality, accountability and standards of police'. The survey found that the Police Force in Hong Kong is 'well respected and keep the streets safe', and 'residents enjoy a high level of public security and safety'. From my own contacts with numerous overseas residents in Hong Kong, I know from the frequent compliments they pay our disciplined services that they share this view. The importance of ensuring safety and security cannot be overstressed, as investment and job creation will only flourish where there is a safe and secure environment.

Upholding Fundamental Rights and Freedoms

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I urge you not to be surprised at the high importance I attach to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. Make no mistake, this noble mission is not the monopoly of human rights groups, whether local or overseas. Whereas some people merely talk about it, we actually put the protection of fundamental rights and liberties into action in all the law-enforcement work we do on a day-to-day basis. Our prime objective is to maintain a balance, as I said last August, between ensuring the overall security and good order of society and protecting individual rights and freedoms, particularly the freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the freedom of association with others. The freedom of thought, conscience and religion is, of course, fully protected in Hong Kong, by the Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government's strict adherence to the Basic Law, our domestic law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in force in Hong Kong. Some statistics on my side of the house provide ample evidence that these freedoms are alive and well in Hong Kong. Since the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR, the numbers of public meetings and public processions have increased two to three times. They continue to grow in the first quarter of this year. The number of societies formed under the Societies Ordinance also multiplied. Since July 1, 1997, no society formed under the Societies Ordinance has had its registration cancelled.

Ensuring Hong Kong Residents' Freedom of Travel

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I believe we have a good, probably very good, story to tell on this score. The greatest challenge faced by the SAR Government in achieving this objective is no doubt the launch of the HKSAR passport. Before the Handover, the HKSAR passport, which was yet to be introduced, was thought to be a passport of doubtful value. Its international accessibility was far from assured, and two Asian countries, Thailand and Malaysia, both favourite travel destinations of Hong Kong people, greeted this unborn passport with such scepticism that they announced that would require visas. As the result of our incessant lobbying, we managed to persuade these two governments to reverse their position before the Handover. In fact, thanks to our tireless efforts, by the time the first HKSAR passport was issued on July 3, 1997, 38 countries and territories had agreed to give the HKSAR passport visa-free access. Today, with visa-free access to 90 countries and territories, including the European Union with effect from April this year, the HKSAR passport is undoubtedly one of the most respected and widely accessible travel documents of the world.

Ensuring the Free Flow of People In and Out of Hong Kong

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We in Security Bureau are also highly sensitive to the need to serve the community by keeping the free flow of people in and out of Hong Kong. We have a very liberal regime towards visitors: the nationals of 170 countries and territories do not require visas to visit Hong Kong. Nationals from most parts of the world can work in Hong Kong provided that they have some knowledge, experience and expertise of value to but not readily available in Hong Kong. Our policy towards the Mainland is much more restrictive though: until recently, Mainland residents could not work in Hong Kong except under official auspices or highly restrictive schemes. But in response to Hong Kong's evolving manpower needs, since late 1999, we have opened the door to Mainland talents. With effect from 1 June this year, we have opened the door also to Mainland professionals in two key sectors (information technology and financial services). As at June 7, 2 777 application forms have been distributed and 34 applications received. This bodes very well for the success of the scheme in augmenting Hong Kong's manpower supply and enhancing our competitiveness.

Ensuring the Free Movement of People and

Goods at the Boundary with the Mainland

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Mainland China being our top trade and investment partner and the top travel destination of Hong Kong residents, the importance of keeping our boundary with Mainland open to the ever-growing traffic in people and goods, while keeping Hong Kong a separate customs and travel area, speaks for itself. The volume of traffic in both people and goods has grown indeed at a phenomenal rate. The volume of cross-boundary passengers grew from 49 million in 1995 to 101 million last year; while the numbers of goods vehicles which passed through Lok Ma Chau grew from 4 309 822 in 1995 to 6 290 771 in 2000, making our boundary with Mainland (which measures only 34 km), one of the busiest, if not the busiest, boundaries in the world. We face a big challenge in keeping the smooth flow of traffic, while taking effective action to deter and detect cross-boundary crime. An urgent problem faced by us now is how to augment the capacity at the two very busy control points, Lowu and Lok Ma Chau, to cope with the rapid and seemingly unstoppable growth in volume of traffic. The Chief Secretary has accorded high priority to this and other cross-boundary traffic and transport problems, with a view to keeping our vital arteries to the Mainland open. We in Security Bureau, and our departments, are happy to be able to contribute to this process.

Strengthening Cross-Boundary Co-operation

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Our proximity to the Mainland, and the close, day-to-day interaction between Mainland and HKSAR residents make cross-boundary co-operation in crime fighting and mutual assistance in criminal justice vital to ensuring the welfare of Hong Kong residents, both in the HKSAR itself and on the Mainland. To achieve this goal, we need not only day-to-day co-operation at the operational level, but also a durable and rules-based framework for co-operation in the administration of criminal justice. This includes the establishment of a statutory framework for the rendition of fugitive offenders, the transfer of sentenced prisoners and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. We have commenced discussions with the Mainland authorities on the first two subjects, and have made good progress despite the complexity and the differences in our respective legal and judicial systems. In addition, to improve assistance to Hong Kong residents detained in the Mainland for alleged involvement in criminal offences, we have, since January this year, established a reciprocal notification system in respect of Hong Kong residents subjected to specific mandatory measures under the Chinese criminal code. This system has worked well, as no fewer than 185 notifications have been made to us since January this year. We are now actively exploring the possibility of extending the system to Mainland ministries other than the Public Security Ministry and the Customs Administration.

Participating in International Co-operation

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In keeping with Hong Kong's character as an international city, we are committed to playing a full part in international co-operation in law enforcement and other related matters. Our support to our friendly partners in fighting cross-boundary crimes such as narcotics and alien smuggling, and money-laundering, is well documented. We have received plenty of international recognition for our efforts, as evidenced by frequent commendations by overseas jurisdictions. Our officials play a leading role in international bodies aimed at fostering international co-operation in fighting crime. A good example is the election of the Hong Kong Commissioner for Customs and Excise in July 2000 to the Vice-Chair of the World Customs Organisation, and in October 2000, the election of Hong Kong as the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Money Laundering in 2001-2002. This is the second time since the establishment of the FATF in 1989 that an Asian member is elected to the Chair. We are very proud of the trust and honour bestowed on Hong Kong and have secured modest additional resources to ensure that we carry out our role effectively.

Promoting the Use of Technology

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The Security Bureau staunchly supports efforts by the departments under its purview to adopt state-of-the-art technology to do their work more efficiently. A good example is the Police's proposal, now awaiting approval by the Legislative Council, to replace their existing communications system by a digitised, third-generation Command and Control Communications System (the CC III). The new technologies employed will provide interference-free and high-speed channels to allow the transmission of voice, data and images; facilitate encrypted transmission and electronic plotting of scenes of crime on digitised maps.

Another good example is the 'smart-card' ID card which Immigration Department will introduce in 2003. Not only will this chip-based card enable the Immigration Department to carry out certain core immigration functions more efficiently, it is also a significant step forward in enhancing our overall information infrastructure and developing Hong Kong into a leading digital city.

Providing Speedy and Reliable Disaster Relief Management

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A safe and secure environment includes an effective and efficient system of response to emergencies, one that minimises the threat to, or loss of, life and property and ensures quick restoration and recovery at times of natural disasters and accidents. In Hong Kong, we are fully aware of the need for the maintenance of such a system. We put great emphasis on emergency preparedness and contingency planning to cater to the different kinds of emergencies that might occur. We carry out exercises regularly to test our contingency plans and for the purpose of practising the communication and co-ordination of those who have a role to play in the system.

Our key emergency services, such as the Fire Services and the Police, backed by supporting departments like the Civil Aid Service and Auxiliary Medical Service, are all professionally trained and equipped to take on the challenge of the most extreme disastrous situations. Equally important following the critical rescue phase of disaster management is co-ordinated relief work to minimise pain and suffering for the victims concerned. Our emergency response system caters to this need, as well as that of the restoration phase which enables life of the community to return to normal as soon as possible. Our handling of the China Airlines accident in August 1999 clearly demonstrated our capability to deal with some of the worst accidents. Our readiness and expertise in dealing with natural disasters are borne out by the fact that in most cases, life usually returns to normal the very next day after a severe typhoon hits Hong Kong.

Strengthening the Legislative Framework

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Last but not least, to ensure Hong Kong remains a safe and secure city, we need to make sure that our law-enforcement agencies have adequate powers to investigate, prosecute and take effective action against crime, including new forms of crime. This means that we need to keep our legislative framework under constant scrutiny to identify areas for improvement as well as the need for new legislation. Because of the breadth of our portfolio and the importance we attach to perfecting the laws by which we operate, Security Bureau has always had the heaviest legislative programme.

Some important new legislation in the pipeline is worth mentioning. We are introducing soon bills to tackle child sex tourism and child pornography; before the end of the year a bill to put the Independent Police Complaints Council on a statutory basis; and in the longer term legislative proposals to tackle computer crime and to update and modernize our laws on the interception of communication. All of the above involves complex issues impinging on individual rights and social behaviour. As always, we will strive to strike a balance between ensuring effective law enforcement and protecting individual rights and freedoms.

Conclusion

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So you can see from the above account, we in the security business do not operate in a vacuum. Nor do we see our role as a purely reactive one of apprehending criminals, or mitigating disasters. On the contrary, we have a proactive agenda of playing by international rules, protecting individual rights and freedoms, refining our laws, and improving our effectiveness and efficiency through the use of new technologies. Above all, apart from serving specific security objectives, we serve the overall good of our society. We set high store by strengthening the competitiveness of our economy and we hope that, by doing so, we will do a better job in serving you.

Thank you.

End/Friday, June 8, 2001

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