THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1979
REFORMED DRUG ADDICTS CAN NOW BE
EMPLOYED BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED THAT REFORMED DRUG DEPENDENTS CAN NOW SEEK EMPLOYMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE FOLLOWING A RECOMMENDATION BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN).
THIS ENCOURAGING NEWS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.I. LEE, WHEN HE PRESENTED APPRECIATION CERTIFICATES TO MEMBERS OF THE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COMMITTEE FOR VOLUNTARILY REHABILITATED ADDICTS.
MR. LEE SAID HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW AUTHORISED TO EMPLOY ADDICTS MAINTAINED ON METHADONE, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION THAT THEY HAVE NO PREVIOUS RECORD OF MAJOR DRUG OFFENCES AND ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE A CERTIFICATE FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDING THAT THE IR ATTENDANCE AT THE METHADONE CENTRE HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH.
HE POINTED OUT THAT OFFENCES SUCH AS THE POSSESSION OF SMALL QUANTITIES OF DRUG FOR SELF-CONSUMPTION WOULD NOT NORMALLY DEBAR EMPLOYMENT, BUT RECEIVING, MANUFACTURING AND TRAFFICKING OFFENCES WOULD.
+AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNMENT HAS AUTHORISED ADDICTS UNDER TREATMENT TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WE SHALL WATCH THE RESULTS OF THIS NEW INITIATIVE TO RE INTEGRATË METHADONE PATIENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY, WITH GREAT HOPE AND INTEREST, MR. LEE SAID.
A TOTAL OF 635 EX-ADDICTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED JOBS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COMMITTEE FOR VOLUNTARILY REHABILITATED ADDICTS INAUGURATED IN JANUARY 1976.
33 MAXICAB ROUTES FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES
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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE INTRODUCING MAXICAB ROUTES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THE FIRST TIME.
DETAILS OF 33 ROUTES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID OWNERS OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES INTERESTED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES MAXICAB ROUTES CAN OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT GUARDIAN HOUSE, SIXTH FLOOR, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, HONG KONG, OR FROM THE KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE AT THE PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, NINTH FLOOR, 56 DUNDAS STREET, KOWLOON, OR FROM KOWLOON OR DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY REGISTERED POST TO REACH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN GUARDIAN HOUSE, O KWAN ROAD, BY 5 P.M. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 28.
HE SAID THAT LATE APPLICATIONS WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED.
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