WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1979
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THE FIRST ARE NON-CUSTODIAL, SUCH AS A FINE OR A PROBATION ORDER. THE SECOND ARE CUSTODIAL SENTENCES EITHER TO A PRISON AS PROVIDED UNDER THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE OR TO A DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE AS PROVIDED UNDER THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES ORDINANCE.
SINCE 1977 ABOUT 20 TO 25 PER CENT OF ALL PERSONS ADMITTED INTO PRISONS PROPER WERE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENCES AGAINST VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE, WHICH RELATE GENERALLY TO THE TAKING OF DRUGS AND THE POSSESSION OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE, MR. DAVIES SAID.
+MANY OF THESE PERSONS CAN PROBABLY BE BETTER DEALT WITH BY BEING SENT TO A DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE THAN DIRECTLY TO PRISONS WHERE THERE ARE NO SPECIALISED TREATMENT AVAILABLE FOR THE IR PROBLEMS OF ADDICTION.
+IT IS TO ALLOW THIS COURSE TO BE FOLLOWED AND FOR AT LEAST A REPORT ON A DRUG OFFENDER TO BE OBTAINED THAT THE AMENDMENT IS PROPOSED,+ MR. DAVIES EXPLAINED.
+THEREFORE A COURT, AFTER CONSIDERING A SUITABILITY REPORT, WILL BE ABLE EITHER TO SEND AN OFFENDER TO A TREATMENT CENTRE OR TO A PRISON DEPENDING ON ITS JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND NATURE OF EACH CASE.+
THE DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
TIME LIMIT ON PROCEEDINGS UNDER CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE
EXTENDED TO ONE YEAR
*****
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
(WEDNESDAY) SUGGESTED THAT THE TIME LIMIT ON THE INSTITUTION OF PROCEEDINGS FOR AN OFFENCE COMMITTED UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ONE YEAR FROM SIX MONTHS.
THE CLEAN AIR (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL ON JULY 4 BỶ THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, HAD PROPOSED THE EXTENSION FROM SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL TODAY, THE HON. PETER C. WONG, SAID UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS GENERALLY FELT THAT AN EXTENSION TO TWO YEARS WAS UNDESIRABLE.
+AFTER A LAPSE OF TWO YEARS, AN OFFENDER MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO REMEMBER ACCURATELY THE FACTS OF HIS CASE AND MATERIAL WITNESSES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE, HE EXPLAINED.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR AGREED WITH THE UNOFFICIALS AND THE APPROPRIATE CLAUSE WAS AMENDED DURING COMMITTEE STAGE.
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