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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1988
"IT CONTAINED A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS, THE MOST PROMINENT OF WHICH WERE THE NEED, FIRSTLY, TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD REVIEW POLICY ON, AND CO-ORDINATE THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO, STREET SLEEPERS; SECONDLY, TO PROVIDE STREET SLEEPERS WITH ADEQUATE REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS; AND THIRDLY, TO SUGGEST THAT LEGISLATION PROHIBITING STREET SLEEPING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED."
특
MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SHAM SHUI PO REPORT WERE FOUND TO BE IN KEEPING WITH EXISTING GOVERNMENT POLICY.
GREATER
HOWEVER, THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE SUPPORTED THE VIEW THAT EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION IN THIE URBAN AREA FOR HOMELESS PERSONS, INCLUDING STREET SLEEPERS.
THE PILOT SCHEME TO OPEN AN URBAN HOSTEL IN YAU MA ΤΕΙ TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS NEW APPROACH, MR CHAU SAID.
WOULD
ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND
"WE ARE NOW ACTIVELY PURSUING THE SUCH HOSTEL UNDER THIS PILOT SCHEME, HE ADDED.
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MR CHAU NOTED THAT THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD ALSO DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM OF STREET SLEEPING AT ITS MEETING IN AUGUST, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE PROBLEM OF STREET SLEEPERS WHO SUFFERED FROM MENTAL DISORDERS AND WHO MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT POSE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.
"AMONG THE VIEWS EXPRESSED WERE SUGGESTIONS WHICH RANGED FROM EXTENDING MORE TIME AND EFFORT TO HELP THE HOMELESS, TO REQUIRING THE MENTALLY DISTURBED TO UNDERGO COUNSELLING IN AN INSTITUTION," HE SAID.
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IN REGARD то THE LATTER, THE MENTAL HEALTH { AMENDMENT} ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL IN THE LAST SESSION, CONTAINS A PROVISION FOR A POLICE OFFICER TO TAKE ANY PERSON WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL DISORDER, AND WHO IS A DANGER EITHER TO HIMSELF OR TO THE PUBLIC, TO A HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION, HE SAID.
MR CHAU STRESSED THAT THIS POWER WAS STRICTLY LIMITED TO THE TRANSFER OF A PATIENT TO AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF A HOSPITAL WHERE HE WOULD RECEIVE PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT AND BE SUBJECT TO A PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF HIS MENTAL CONDITION.
"THE PATIENT CAN BE DETAINED FOR THIS PURPOSE FOR NOT MORE THAN 24 HOURS, UNLESS FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN UNDER OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE," HE SAID.
STREET
MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT THIS PROVISION, WHICH WOULD COME INTO FORCE EARLY NEXT YEAR, WAS NOT TARGETTED SPECIFICALLY AT SLEEPERS AND WOULD BE USED WITH THE NECESSARY DISCRETION.
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