Sir,
UMELCO
DRAFT SPEECH BY DR HON HO KAM FAI, OBE, JP LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 7 MAY 1986
-
DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES
(AMENDMENT) BILL 1986
to
In the treatment of drug addicts the most crucial phase of work is to assist them, after their release from treatment
to adapt centres,
the the pressure arising from living in community, holding a job and associating with family members and friends. To this end, after-care services are provided to render
to and counselling supervision,
the detoxified drug
abusers.
guidance
The most important amendment proposed in the Bill, as I see it, is to shorten the minimum period of detention in order to maximize the effect of aftercare. The intention is to reduce to the minimum the chances of relapse and is based on experience
in that
shorter the time spent
mild
the cases
inside the
treatment centre the lower the chances of relapse. This approach is in line with the current rehabilitation practice
practice for drug abusers, and is therefore worthy of our support.
However, the success of aftercare depends to a large extent on the quality of supervision. If the proposed amendments legislated, it is estimated that there would be 100-odd detoxified drug abusers released
therefore
are
I for supervision.
>
urge the Administration to assure this
assure this Council that the training
and
the
Services
supervision
strength Department
of after-care
would
officers
be adequate to
and counselling services.
needed
in the
Correctional
the provide
If there are
any
shortfalls in manpower, additional resources must be allocated to remedy them; otherwise the enactment of
the enactment of the proposed amendments to the Bill will be a fruitless exercise.
0038D
With these comments, Sir, I support the motion.
UMELCO