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Wednesday, October 17, 1973
this purpose as soon as possible. I know that Dr. Gerald Choa eagerly
accepts this new challenge.
I cannot sufficiently emphasise the importance for any programme
of eradication of having a form of treatment for addicts which can be
applied en masse without long confinement in an institution. The pilot
schemos now being conducted by the Department of Medical and Health Services,
and by the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Association are therefore of critical
importance.
Crime
Dr. Choa will be expanding on this later in the debate.
I spoke at some length last year of my deep concern about the growth
of crine, particularly violent crime. During the year, action has been taken
on a very wide front. One might say this action has fallen under three
main hoadings: to increase the numbers and effectiveness of police on the
street to change things done by the police to make them more helpful to
the public; to change things done by the public to make them more helpful
to the police and to themselves.
There is still great doubt amongst real experts as to what the
root causes of crime are. But a working group has produced an illuminating
interia report on facets of life in Hong Kong that probably contribute to
crine, and we await its final report with great interest. These papers
suggest that certain aspects of our social programmes and certain defects
in them, have more immediate relevance for the combatting of crime than others.
It is extremely valuable to have these critical areas pin-pointed and
the implications will be very carefully considered. Certainly it is reasonable
/to hope