6
difficulties
when the mentally handicapped are involved.
In
For example, the victim may not be able to identify his or
her assailant, the quality of the evidence may not be
adequate to justify arrest and prosecution and so on.
the circumstances, I do not find the prosecution
50 per cent to be unduly low.
rate of
a
As regards the second part of the question, there
similar question asked of the Attorney General on 20 May
1987, when he was dealing with this particular question.
He was asked whether any assistance given to the mentally
handicapped was provided when evidence was given in court,
and the answer on that occasion was that 'No, they are
treated as any other witness is treated, with
consideration, and no doubt with special consideration in
view of their disability.'.
MR. HUI : Sir, in view of the vulnerability of the
handicapped in being sexually abused, could
mentally
Government
inform this Council whether there are any
sexual education programmes specially designed for them?
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY : Sir, I think this question really
comes into the rehabilitation policy area, and this would
normally, therefore, be a matter for the Secretary for
Education and Manpower but with his forebearance I shall
provide an
an outline of the particular efforts made, other
than those by the police and the courts, to reduce sexual
abuse of the mentally handicapped.
·