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THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1975
ON THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME, HE PERSONALLY FELT THAT METHADONE SHOULD BE USED ONLY AS AN ADJUNCT TO THE TREATMENT OF HEROIN ADDICTION AND NOT AS AN END IN ITSELF.
HE NOTED THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF OFFERING METHADONE TREATMENT AS AN OUT-PATIENT SERVICE HAD NOW BEEN ACCEPTED AND THREE MORE CLINICS HAD BEEN SET UP TO DISPENSE THIS SERVICE. DR. FANG SOUNDED A NOTE OF CAUTION, HOWEVER, AGAINST COMMITTING OURSELVES TO AN EVER INCREASING BURDEN ON THE TAX-PAYER'S MONEY IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN ADDICTS ON METHADONE.
STILL ON MEDICAL SERVICES. HE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO STATE WHY THE PILOT STUDY ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS IN OUTPATIENT CLINICS HAD NOT BEEN PURSUED, AND WHAT ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE TO ENABLE OUT-PATIENT CLINICS TO OPERATE AT MAXIMUM ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY.
ON THE PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION OF THE INCREASED EXPENDITURE BUDGETTED FOR 1975-76, DR. FANG NOTED THAT NEARLY $70 MILLION, OR 41.65 PER CENT OF THE INCREASE, WOULD GO TO THE THREE LAW- ENFORCING DEPARTMENTS THE POLICE, PRISONS AND LEGAL DEPARTMENTS,
HE FELT THAT IF THE CRIME PROBLEM COULD BE CONTAINED, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DEVOTE A LARGER SHARE OF HARD EARNED RESOURCES TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE LIFE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.
IN PASSING, DR. FANG SAID THERE WERE MANY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE RISING CRIME RATE +BUT THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF OUR UPSURGE IN CRIME IS OUR INABILITY TO IMPOSE DETERRENT SENTENCES, THAT IS TO SAY, ENFORCING THE LAW ON THE DEATH PENALTY,
HE SAID THIS INABILITY HAD BEEN FORCED ON HONG KONG BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AS A POLITICAL MOVE, TOTALLY IGNORING LOCAL SENTIMENTS ON THIS ISSUE.
+IN MY VIEW, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS A CASE TO ANSWER AND I URGE MOST STRONGLY THAT RENEWED EFFORTS BE MADE TO LIFT THE BAN ON IMPOSING THE DEATH PENALTY.*
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