XN000022-1973-12-21 — Page 6

Friday, December 21, 1973

EN

5

BETTER CONDITIONS FOR REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS

A number of improvements to present procedures relating to the

detention of drug addicts in drug addiction treatment centres will be

made under a new Bill to be introduced into the Legislative Council

shortly.

These improvements are aimed at providing better conditions for

the rehabilitation of drug addicts and reducing the problem of drug

addiction.

The Bill, known as the Drug Addiction Treatment Centres (Amendment)

Bill 1973, was published in today's Gazette.

Under the Bill, a conviction shall only be entered on the offender's

record if the court considers that the circumstances of the offence so

warrant and so orders.

Commenting on the proposed legislation, a spokesman for the Prisons

Department said: "The treatment is regarded as medical rather than punitive;

it is in the interest of successful rehabilitation that offenders, particularly

young and first offenders, should be able to return to normal life with a

clean sheet."

A further provision of the Bill enables the Commissioner of Prisons

to recall a person to a centre for further treatment if he fails to comply

with a supervision order under which he is allowed to leave the centre.

A person recalled to an addiction treatment centre will be detained

until the expiry of 18 months from the date of the original detention order

or the expiry of six months from the date of his arrest following recall,

whichever is the later.

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