In line with the Operational Priorities for New Territories South Region for 2007 focusing on prevention of youth involvement in crime, the Regional Missing Persons Unit, New Territories South, (RMPU NTS) has looked into the problem, and subsequently identified poor relationships with family as one of the significant causation factors.

This has been further echoed by the actions taken by some government departments in public education and publicity. For example, the Family Health Services Branch of the Department of Health has been calling on parents to spare more time and forge a closer relationship with their children. More recently the Food and Health Bureau has launched Television Announcements in Public Interest on "Love & Care", "Commitment" and "Harmony", in line with the Chief Executive's 2006-07 Policy Address.

Tasked with the job of locating missing persons, in particular youngsters, RMPU NTS knows only too well that the runaways, being too young to fend for themselves outside their homes, could be exploited by criminals and might subsequently end up on the road to crime, thus aggravating the problem of juvenile delinquency. The Unit believes that if fewer youngsters run away from home, less juvenile delinquency there will be.

Project "Leading-light"

Based on its work experience, RMPU NTS, therefore, has come up with a major initiative to prevent youths at risk from running away from home - Project "Leading-light". To achieve this objective, the Unit has adopted partnerships with parents and schools, as well as a multi-agency approach to help the youths.

Officers of RMPU NTS are delivering additional services under the project, on top of their day-to-day jobs. Essentially, the extra work they are working on includes a Preventive Programme for youths aged between 12 and 15 studying in Forms 1 to 3, with priority given to schools with a higher incidence of students reported missing; a Remedial Programme for the youths who are the subject of repeated missing person reports, as well as a Family Support Programme for the parents of this category of runaways.

Project "Leading-light" is based on the following major principles:

* Early Intervention to prevent negative peer influence among students in schools;

* Partnership and multi-disciplinary collaboration to encourage youths at risk to take part in healthy lifestyle activities, with the concerted efforts by government departments and agencies;

* Professional assistance and guidance to parents whose children have run away from home, and

* Direct Intervention by referring missing person cases to the Social Welfare Department or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for follow-up action.

Action on different fronts

RMPU NTS has been actively taking Project "Leading-light" forward on several fronts over the past few months.

The Unit has, with the assistance of the School Liaison Officers of the Police Community Relations Office, commenced a series of seminars at schools in NTS Region, targeting schools with students having a higher incidence of running away from home. The seminars sought to correct students' wrong notions about running away from home, and advised them on the problems and consequences a runway would encounter.

In addition, the seminars briefed the students on the services and activities provided by NGOs dedicated to youth work, such as the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, Hong Kong Playgrounds Association, and "Youth Outreach".

RMPU NTS is also taking measures on other fronts. The Unit refers young persons reported missing for the first time to NGOs so that they would benefit from the extra-curricular activities provided by the NGOs. The referrals also enable the NGOs to monitor the youngsters' personal developments and progress.

To achieve maximum results for Project "Leading-light", the Unit also works hand in hand with similar projects, such as Project "Parent-Child-Link" by Regional Cime Prevention Office, NTS, to run seminars on parenting.

The parents of those youngsters located by RMPU NTS, particularly those who ran away from home for the first time, are also a major service target for Project "Leading-light". Officers follow up these successful cases by advising the parents on the services available at the Social Welfare Department, in case they require the services in the future.

At the same time, the Unit's Investigating Officers also take follow-up action in respect of young persons reported missing for the first time. They provide these youngsters with a card containing contact information and expressing the officers' care and concern, in case they require any assistance from RMPU NTS in the future. Similar follow-up service is also provided for habitual runaways.

By October this year, Project "Leading-light" will have operated for six months. By then RMPU NTS is expected to review the project's effectiveness with all key stakeholders.

Senior Inspector Tam Mei-po, Officer-in-Charge of RMPU NTS, has been busy delivering talks to teenagers