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The Security Bureau will press ahead with new and ongoing initiatives and legislative work in this Legislative Council session to ensure good law and order, facilitate the movement of people and goods, upgrade the quality of local human resources through the admission of talent, and provide efficient and reliable emergency services.
The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, made this statement today (October 18) at the special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Security on the 2006-2007 Policy Agenda.
Mr Lee outlined the Risks and Needs Assessment Protocol introduced by the Correctional Services Department to identify prisoners prone to custodial and re-offending risks and deliver rehabilitative programmes matching their needs with a view to more effectively reducing re-offending.
"This month the department started to conduct risks and needs assessments for all local young offenders and local adult offenders with sentences of two years or above upon their admission," Mr Lee said. "It will implement rehabilitative programmes matching the needs of young offenders in training centre, detention centre, rehabilitation centre and drug addiction treatment centre next year."
Regarding the reduction of the coverage of the Frontier Closed Area announced last month, Mr Lee said the bureau was consulting the relevant parties, including Heung Yee Kuk, the concerned District Councils and Rural Committees.
"We will undertake the necessary legislative and administrative measures and co-ordinate to construct a secondary boundary fence on the southern edge of the boundary patrol road.
"Upon the completion of the secondary boundary fence, we will amend the Frontier Closed Area Order to statutorily delineate the new Frontier Closed Area boundary. In parallel with the preparation for the secondary boundary fence, the Planning Department will embark on a planning study for the land to be excluded from the Frontier Closed Area," he said.
Another important task for the Security Bureau is to make the necessary preparations for the co-location arrangement for a new control point for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor.
"While Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides will continue to press ahead with the construction of the new control point and subsequent preparatory work to commission the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor in July 2007, legislation will have to be introduced to make Hong Kong laws applicable to the Hong Kong Port Area and to provide for related purposes," Mr Lee said.
"Subject to resolution of the Central Authorisation under which Hong Kong will be authorised to exercise jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area at the new control point, we aim to introduce the Hong Kong Port Areas Bill into the Legislative Council in the current Legislative Council session."
The Security Bureau has also been actively working on a draft Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) Bill to provide a legal basis for the existing police complaints system. The Bill will make IPCC a statutory body and specify the composition, functions and powers of the body.
"We are consulting IPCC on the content of the draft Bill and will study the recommendations made. The Bill will be introduced to the Legislative Council after it is further refined."
Mr Lee also briefed members on legislative work concerning mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and surrender of fugitive offenders, signifying Hong Kong's commitment to international co-operation in combating serious crimes.
On the Quality Migrants Admission Scheme, he said the Immigration Department had received 407 applications for the period between the introduction of the scheme in June this year and October 6. The first batch of successful applicants is expected to be selected before the end of this year.
So far, some 1,000 civil celebrants of marriages have been appointed since the Civil Celebrants of Marriages Scheme was launched in April this year. The scheme has been well received by the public and the Administration will review the qualification requirements for civil celebrants one year after its implementation.
Mr Lee said a new type of passport featuring biometric capability would be introduced in early 2007 to safeguard the travel convenience enjoyed by its holders, and to tie in with the first tide of applications for renewal of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports valid for 10 years from July, 1997.
On emergency service, Mr Lee said the Administration was looking into possible options for better meeting demands for emergency ambulance service and would continue to review the resources for the service.
The Administration will continue to encourage the public to use the emergency ambulance service appropriately. A steering committee has been set up to study the feasibility of adopting a medical priority dispatch system in Hong Kong to ensure that the service is more targeted at those people in genuine need.
On anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong was committed to maintaining a robust regime to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and that Hong Kong laws and practices were consistent with established international standards.
"The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) has revised its '40+9' Recommendations, some elements of which are already enshrined in the existing legislation," he said.
"As regards those recommendations which need to be put in place through new legislation, we are studying the legislative amendments required. Since it will affect a wide range of sectors, extensive consultations need to be held. As the FATF will conduct an intensive evaluation on Hong Kong's anti-money laundering regime in 2007-2008, we are planning to take into account comments or recommendations that the evaluation report would make before finalising our legislative proposals."
Ends/Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:40
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