SECRET SOCIETY ACTIVITIES INVOLVING STUDENTS (Particulars)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) if there is any sign that students have been systematically recruited by secret societies; (b) what is the number of students involved in gang fights and other secret society activities since the beginning of 1984 up to the latest convenient date; and (c) what steps have been or will be taken to protect innocent students from being used or harassed by members of the secret societies.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Sir, there is no evidence whatsoever of any systematic recruitment of students by secret societies.

A total of 13 secret society incidents (ie, gang fights) were reported during the period 1984 and up to 15 March 1986. Twelve students were involved in three of these incidents.

The Police conducted a number of activities to prevent student involvement in secret society activities. A programme of talks to primary and secondary schools by officers of the Secret Societies Branch of the CID has been going on for several years. The objective of these talks is to make students aware of the nature, the form and the evils of secret societies, with particular emphasis on secret society recruitment methods. An average of eight such talks are delivered each month. Officers of the Secret Societies Branch also keep in touch with school principals and discipline masters so that feedback can be received on problems such as harassment of students by secret society members. When such feedback is received, action is taken to nip the problem in the bud.

When there is evidence to suggest that students are becoming or have become involved in secret society activities without actual involvement in serious incidents, action is immediately taken to call up the students concerned to the CID for counselling and advice in the presence of their parents. Follow-up action is also taken to monitor the subsequent activities of the students concerned.

Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta): Sir, are the 12 students in question members of secret societies?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, the fact that they were involved in three of the secret society incidents over the last few years indicate that they are members of secret societies.