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13
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988
THAT
NOTING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD INDICATED
PSYCHIATRIC BACK-UP SERVICES WOULD BE PROVIDED WITHIN A FEW YEARS TO HOSPITALS, SHE ASKED THAT AN ASSURANCE BE GIVEN AS ΤΟ WHEN THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED.
DR IP CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS WAS EVER INCREASING AND IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO TRY TO STAY FIT BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.
LEGISLATION STRIKES A REASONABLE BALANCE
THE PASSAGE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WOULD STRIKE A REASONABLE BALANCE BETWEEN THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WHEN SUPPORTING THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SAID
MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT THROUGH THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP, AND ITS IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE MANY REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY THE MEDICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIAL PROFESSIONS, THE BILL WOULD NOW BE AMENDED TO GIVE TO THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
WORK
BETTER PROTECTION
HE EXPLAINED THAT A PERSON SUFFERING ONLY FROM INCOMPLETE DEVELOPMENT OF MIND WOULD NOT BE COMPULSORILY A MENTAL HOSPITAL, UNLESS THE PATIENT WAS CERTIFIED BY PRACTITIONERS TO BE ABNORMALLY AGGRESSIVE OR THAT HIS SERIOUSLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
ARRESTED OR DETAINED IN TWO MEDICAL CONDUCT WAS
"I AM ALSO GLAD THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO SET UP A WORKING PARTY IN THREE MONTHS' TIME ΤΟ CONSIDER HAVING A SEPARATE PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED."
MR CHEONG-LEEN NOTED THAT THE ORDINANCE HAD ALSO BEEN REVISED TO IMPROVE THE MANNER IN WHICH MENTAL PATIENTS WERE TO BE HANDLED.
"THOSE SUFFERING FROM PSYCHOPATHIC DISORDERS, OR ANY OTHER DISORDER OR DISABILITY OF MIND ASSOCIATED WITH ABNORMALLY AGGRESSIVE OR SERIOUSLY IRRESPONSIBLE CONDUCT, CAN BE DETAINED AND GIVEN MEDICAL TREATMENT IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES AND HAVING REGARD TO ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE LIBERTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, HE SAID.
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/HE WAS