18
To cope with the growing demand, patients in Tuen Mun seeking consultation in the specialities of Medicine and Geriatrics are given the choice of referral to South Kwai Chung Specialist Out-patient Clinic where the waiting time is shorter. As always, patients with suspected urgent conditions will be provided with immediate
treatment.
In the longer term, Government is working closely together with the Hospital Authority on a project to reprovision Tuen Mun Polyclinic in Tuen Mun Hospital with expanded consultation facilities.
End
Rape case involving mentally handicapped victim
Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Attorney General, the Hon Jeremy Mathews, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In a recent rape case involving a victim who is a mentally handicapped person, it was reported that the Legal Department considered that the victim was incapable of giving testimony in court and dropped charges against the defendant to safeguard the victim's best interests. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
whether the prosecution had considered using the video-link system to conduct the hearing;
(b)
whether it had assessed the victim's mental and psychological conditions before the trial; if not, why not; and how it has determined that the victim was incapable of giving testimony in court;
(c)
(d)
of the criteria adopted for determining what the victim's best interests
were;
whether, in deciding to drop charges against the defendant, consideration had been given to the chances of a successful prosecution; and