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Juvenile crime was one of the major concerns for the Government and concerted efforts by various departments and sectors were required to effectively combat it, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said today (May 8).
Mr Lee was speaking at the Islands District Fight Crime Committee (DFCC) meeting.
In addition to stepping up patrols of places frequented by young people, Mr Lee said, the Police also closely co-operated with the Education and Manpower Bureau, the Social Welfare Department, schools, parent-teacher associations, youth organisations and DFCCs to prevent triad infiltration into schools and to drive home anti-crime messages.
He noted that juvenile crime in the district - mostly shop thefts and acts of bullying - was not as serious as other districts. Nonetheless, the Islands DFCC had been keeping a close watch on juvenile behaviour and crime trends including the problem of drug abuse.
Mr Lee said the Police had initiated a juvenile crime prevention programme, "Vision Possible", on Lantau Island, targeted at newly enrolled Form One students. The programme was to encourage young people to pursue a healthy lifestyle, build self-confidence and discipline through participation in a series of discipline and adventure-based training.
Noting that some areas had seen the more serious problem of young people abusing drugs, Mr Lee said that the Police had been working with voluntary agencies, parent-teacher associations and rural committees to organise a wide-range of anti-drug activities to raise residents' alertness and to make young people understand the menace of drug abuse.
To tackle burglaries in village houses in the district, Mr Lee said that the Police had adopted a flexible approach in patrols and enforcement actions having regard to the rural environment, and enhanced promotional and educational efforts to raise the level of home security.
Mr Lee was pleased to see a close rapport between non-ethnic Chinese and local groups in the district. Non-ethnic Chinese took part in various activities organised by the Police and local organisations, which helped to maintain a harmonious environment and good law and order.
He thanked the Islands DFCC, relevant government departments and local organisations for their efforts and collaboration, which led to a low level of crime in the locality during the last five years.
However, with the rapid development of northwestern Lantau, the commencement of economic and infrastructural projects and the growing population, Mr Lee said that the Police would remain vigilant and adopt flexible strategies to meet new challenges in fighting and preventing crime.
Ends/Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:44
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