MRS. TAM:
DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MRS ROSANNA TAM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 22.6.88
Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 1987
Committee Stage Clause 28 moved by Hon Mrs Rosanna TAM
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I move that clause 28 be amended as set out in the
paper circulated under my name to Members. This amendment puts a greater restraint on the circumstances under which a police officer can exercise his power of removing a person to a place of safety, and emphasis that the relevant section does not confer upon any police officer a right to enter premises. A great deal of concern has been expressed about the possibility of abuse arising from the Bill's provision that if a police finds in any place a person who appears to him to be suffering from mental disorder
To provide better safeguard against any possibility of the Police abuse, the amendment imposes greater discipline on the part of the police and replaces who appears to him to be with whom he reasonably believes to be
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The amendment also provides an assurance that the Bill will not open up an opportunity for police abuse of power through the confirmation that the Bill does not confer the right of entry to the police. This amendment hopefully will ease the mind of those who are concerned about the Bill's effect on police powers.
With these remarks, Sir, I beg to move.