WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1979
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DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL SUPPORTED
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THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO DELETE FROM ITS POLICE RECORDS ALL RELATED INFORMATION ON MINOR DRUG OFFENDERS, ESPECIALLY FIRST OFFENDERS, WHERE THIS IS CONSIDERED SUITABLE.
HE ALSO HOPED THE COURTS WILL RECORD NO CONVICTION AGAINST THEM IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE BILL REQUIRES THE COURTS TO CONSIDER, PRIOR TO SENDING A MINOR DRUG OFFENDER TO IMPRISONMENT, A REPORT ON HIS SUITABILITY FOR ADMISSION TO THE ALTERNATIVE ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN PRAISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR THIS ENLIGHTENED APPROACH. HE FURTHER WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER THE OFFENDER WILL RECEIVE TREATMENT DURING THE PERIOD HE IS ON REMAND PENDING THE SUITABILITY REPORT.
IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID ALL REMANDS REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR WHATEVER SYMPTOMS RECEIVE IT ON ADMISSION.
+THOSE SUFFERING FROM WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR DRUG ADDICTION, HE SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF CONVICTION RECORDS, MR. DAVIES SAID THAT THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES ORDINANCE ALREADY PROVIDES, WHEN A COURT MAKES A DETENTION ORDER, NO CONVICTION BEING RECORDED AGAINST THE PERSON IN RESPECT OF WHOM THE ORDER IS MADE UNLESS, IN THE OPINION OF THE COURT, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE OFFENCE SO WARRANT.
+HOWEVER, WHEN A COURT FINDS A PERSON GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE POLICE TO MAINTAIN A RECORD, HE ADDED.
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