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The Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, visited Sham Shui Po District this afternoon (May 27) to learn more about the crime prevention network established by the Police and stall operators, as well as the support services for new arrival families provided by a charitable organisation in the local community. He also met with members of the Sham Shui Po District Council.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Benjamin Mok, Mr Lai visited Sham Shui Po Police Station, where he was briefed on the background and outcome of the Sham Shui Po Hawkers' Charter.
With the support of the Sham Shui Po District Fight Crime Committee and District Councillors, Sham Shui Po Police District entered into a charter with the Apliu Street Hawkers' Association for establishing an effective crime prevention network in July 2014. Under the charter, the stall operators and hawkers on the street become guardians and combat crime jointly with the Police by providing crime information on designated police hotlines.
Mr Lai said he was glad to know that the response to the charter has been overwhelming. The scheme was subsequently extended to cover all the streets with stalls in the district. Over 250 stall operators have signed up now. Information provided by members of the Charter has already led to the detection of about 50 crime cases so far.
Mr Lai later visited Apliu Street to meet with stall operators who have signed up to the charter to learn more about how they benefited from the charter.
Afterwards, Mr Lai proceeded to Windshield Charitable Foundation Sham Shui Po Social Services Centre to learn about the centre's support services for the elderly, new arrivals and students in need. He chatted with new arrival children and families from the Mainland attending after-school revision classes.
Windshield Charitable Foundation Sham Shui Po Social Services Centre aims to assist the disadvantaged, including offering a range of services to new arrivals and their families, to help them integrate into the local community by encouraging self-reliance.
During the visit, Mr Lai met with District Councillors to exchange views on law and order matters and other community issues.
Ends/Friday, May 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:22
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