XN000022-1973-04-27 — Page 5

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Friday, April 27, 1973

PRISON DEPARTMENT PSYCHIATRIC CENTRE AT SIU LAM

New Bill Widens Category Of People To Be Admitted

Amending legislation is to be introduced shortly to enable a

wider category of mentally unstable persons to be admitted to the Prisons

Department Psychiatric Centre at Siu Lam for detention, observation or

specialist treatment.

The Centre was set up in November last year as a permanent

institution to replace the temporary Psychiatric Observation Unit at

the Victoria Remand Centre and is at present in use for the observation

and treatment of people admitted to prison.

The aim of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 1973, published

in the Gazette today for general information, is to allow those who

presently may be admitted to a mental hospital under certain sections of

the Mental Health Ordinance and the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.

These include:

*

Convicted persons, or persons against whom the facts of

an offence punishable by imprisonment have been proved.

Persons remanded under the Mental Health Ordinance to

a prison or mental hospital for observation, investigation

or treatment.

Persons remanded in custody by a court who, at the

time of remand, showed no sign of mental disorder, but

while in custody develop signs of mental disorder.

Accused persona in respect of whom a special verdict

of not guilty by reason of insanity or a finding of

disability has been returned.

/* Convicted