FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1978
EX-DRUG ADDICT HOSTEL OPENS AT OI MAN ESTATE
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THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.I. LEE, TODAY CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO ADOPT A MORE SYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS FORMER DRUG ADDICTS WHO ARE TRYING TO RE-INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF TUNG FOOK HOUSE A HALF -WAY HOSTEL FOR EX-DRUG ADDICTS AT 01 MAN ESTATE MR. LEE SAID THERE ARE AT PRESENT MORE THAN 14,000 PEOPLE IN HONG KONG UNDERGOING SOME FORM OF DRUG TREATMENT, REHABILITATION OR AFTER-CARE EVERYDAY.
OF THIS NUMBER, ABOUT 2,000 ARE IN VARIOUS TREATMENT CENTRES AND THE REMAINING 12,000 ARE EITHER UNDER AFTER-CARE TO RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN SOCIETY, OR ARE USING THE OUT-PATIENT METHADONE PROGRAMME TO HELP THEMSELVES BACK TO NORMAL LIFE.
+WHETHER THEIR EFFORTS TO REHABILITATE THEMSELVES WILL SUCCEED, OR WHETHER THEY RELAPSE TO DRUGS DEPENDS, TO A LARGE EXTENT, ON THEIR ACCEPTANCE BY THEIR RELATIVES, FRIENDS, EMPLOYERS AND NEIGHBOURS,+ MR. LEE SAID
→IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID, +1 AM DELIGHTED AND ENCOURAGED TO LEARN THAT RESIDENTS OF OI MAN ESTATE, WHERE THIS HOUSE IS LOCATED, HAVE SHOWN SUCH AS ATTITUDE.+
+NOT ONLY HAVE THEY ACCEPTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS HOUSE IN THE IR MIDST BUT THEY WILL ALSO PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN ITS OPERATION THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION OF TWO OF THEIR MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE, MR. LEE SAID.
IN ADDITION, HE NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO SUPPORT THE HOUSE BY TAKING PART IN ITS SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS BY BUILDING UP PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE REHABILITATED ADDICTS.
BY SO DOING, MR. LEE SAID, THE PEOPLE OF THE OF MAN ESTATE AND THE YOUNG VOLUNTEERS HAVE SET A VERY FINE EXAMPLE FOR ALL OTHER SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO FOLLOW.
MR. LEE SAID ALTHOUGH HONG KONG COULD TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT IT HAS ACHIEVED SO FAR THROUGH ITS VARIOUS TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES, WE RECOGNISE THAT DEALING WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG ADDICTION ARE INFINITELY MORE COMPLEX THAN OVERCOMING PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE ON DRUGS.+
+THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THOSE NEWLY DISCHARGED FROM TREATMENT ARE PARTICULARLY ACUTE, AND ARE OFTEN AGGRAVATED BY THE IR RE-ENTRY INTO THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVE,+ HE COMMENTED.
THE TUNG FOOK HOUSE,