WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1976
JOBS SECURED FOR OVER 70 EX-DRUG ADDICTS UNDER AN EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE SCHEME *****
THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.1. LEE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN A LEAD IN OFFERING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO REHABILITATED DRUG ADDICTS.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY WHICH MARKED THE END OF A SIX-MONTH EXPERIMENTAL EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE SCHEME FOR THE VOLUNTARILY REHABILITATED ADDICTS ORGANISED BY THE LIONS INTER- NATIONAL DISTRICT 303, THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS (SARDA), THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF SARDA AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
UNDER GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, THE COMMISSIONER SAID, EX-DRUG ADDICTS COULD BE EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE SERIOUS OFFENDERS WHO WERE ENGAGED IN THE +RECEIVING+, +MANUFACTURING+ AND +TRAFFICKING+ OF DANGEROUS DRUGS. HE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT A TOTAL OF 25 REHABILITATED DRUG ADDICTS WERE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, SERVING IN THE CIVIL SERVICE LAST YEAR.
THIS WAS NOT A VERY LARGE FIGURE, BUT IT INDICATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST REHABILITATED ADDICTS, MR. LEE SAID.
COMMENTING ON THE EXPERIMENTAL EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE SCHEME WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY SECURED JOB PLACEMENTS FOR 76 EX-ADDICTS, MR. LEE SAID IT WAS A HOPEFUL INDICATION THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE NOW BEGINNING TO SHOW A GREATER INTEREST IN HELPING EX-DRUG ADDICTS.
HE EMPHASISED THAT EX-ADDICTS MUST BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK SO THAT THEY COULD RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS RESPONSIBLE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
+WHAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES NEED NOW IS THE SYMPATHY AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST FORMIDABLE TASK WHICH CONFRONTS US, + MR. LEE ADDED.
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