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Police have stepped up enforcement action against street prostitution activities in Tsuen Wan and a total of 40 women in connection with such activities have been arrested so far this year.
Speaking at a press briefing in Tsuen Wan Police Station this (Monday) afternoon, District Operations Officer, Tsuen Wan, Mr Kung Wai-kwok, said, "Tsuen Wan Police have stepped up enforcement action against street prostitution activities since July this year following the receipt of complaints against such activities."
Mr Kung said: "Officers from District Special Duty Squad, Tsuen Wan, impersonating as prostitute patrons were deployed to mount a series of operations against such activities."
A total of 40 women have been arrested for soliciting for an immoral purpose in Tsuen Wan this year and 25 of them were arrested this month.
Police enquiries revealed that 37 arrested women aged between 20 and 39 were two-way permit holders from Fujian. They were also arrested for breaching of conditions of stay.
"These women usually solicited man pedestrians for prostitution on Tai Uk Street, Ho Pui Street, San Tsuen Street, Tsuen Lung Street and Wo Tik Street," Mr Kung said.
"After striking a deal with a patron for about $200 to $300, a prostitute took him to a nearby flat or villa in the district for sex services."
Tsuen Wan Police are now investigating if these street prostitution activities are controlled by a syndicate as the 31 two-way permit holders' trips to Hong Kong were arranged by the same travel agent.
Meanwhile, Police also received complaints from woman residents in Tsuen Wan that they were solicited on streets by prostitute patrons for prostitution.
Mr Kung warned that it was soliciting women on streets for sex services.
Once convicted of the offence of soliciting for an immoral purpose, the offender is liable to a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment.
He also urged members of the public to come forward to provide information on the dens of street prostitutes or on people controlling them.
Add Police Report No.2
Issued by PPRB
End/1930 hrs, Monday, November 30, 1998 (EC/PW)
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