Transcript of remarks by S for S after FCC meeting
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     Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, at a media session at Central Government Offices, Tamar, after the Fight Crime Committee meeting this afternoon (February 21):

Reporter: Can you give us your general thoughts on the new guidelines for front-line police officers who face verbal abuse? Do you agree with the Commissioner of Police who said yesterday that the guidelines would not be enforced during protests?

Secretary for Security: I fully agree with what the Commissioner has told the press yesterday. The draft guideline is made for the intention of assisting front-line police officers in handling some kind of abusive behaviour when they were on duty. They will guide all front-line officers how to handle these cases step by step so that they can provide a professional (service) in handling these cases.

Reporter: Regarding the latest crime trends in Hong Kong, which one would you think is the most problematic?

Secretary for Security: As what I have said in Cantonese, the overall crime situation in Hong Kong has been improving. I would say that this is a very welcoming situation. But, there are, of course, certain areas that the number of reported cases has gone up, for instance, serious drug offences. In particular, the number of people aged from 10 to 15 arrested has increased by 43, representing an increase of 55.8 per cent. A research into all these arrested young persons indicated that the vast majority of them have not committed any offences previously. So, this is an indication that they were brought into these illegal activities by others. This is something we are concerned about. To tackle this problem, we are planning to launch a more direct and forceful publicity programme to remind our younger generations of the importance of getting away from drugs. We will do so through some new media. For example, the Police YouTube will contain a lot of more attractive and the latest information. It is because nowadays young people pay more attention to this kind of new media.

Reporter: People worried that the new guideline will affect the freedom of expression in Hong Kong. What would you say?

Secretary for Security: It will not limit the (freedom of) expression in Hong Kong as what I have explained earlier in Cantonese. It is a kind of guideline that assists front-line police officers in handling this kind of situation only and it is not applicable to public order events.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, February 21, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:18

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