XN000022-1975-01-24 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1975

PRISON'S DRUG ADDICTION CENTRE

MOVES TO HEI LING CHAU

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A DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE IS TO BE LOCATED ON HEI LING CHAU WHEN THE LEPROSY MISSION (HONG KONG) AUXILIARY CLOSES DOWN AT THE END OF THE MONTH,

THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL DE REVIEWED AFTER THE CENTRE HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR FOUR YEARS AND IT IS HOPED THAT HEI LING CHAU MAY THEN BE USED FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE PRISON ACCOMMODATION.

THIS WAS NECESSARY AS EXISTING PRISON DEPARTMENT ACCOMMODATION WAS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS OVERGROWDING DUE TO THE FACT THAT MORE CONVICTIONS WERE DEING SECURED AND LONGER SENTENCES BEING IMPOSED BY THE COURTS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ONE OF THE MEASURES TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM WAS THE RECONVERSION OF THE MA PO PING DRUG ADDICTION CENTRE TO A PRISON, FOR WHICH IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED, AND THE CONSEQUENT MOVE OF THE CENTRE TO HEI LING CHAU.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE BUILDINGS ON THE ISLAND WOULD NEED VERY LITTLE ALTERATION SO THAT THE MOVE WOULD BEGIN AT ONCE,

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED A STATEMENT MADE BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TWO MONTHS AGO IN WHICH HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PREFER TO USE THE ISLAND FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF PRISON ACCOMMODATION HAS MADE IT ESSENTIAL TO FIND ADDITIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTS AT VERY SHORT NOTICE.+

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE NEW CENTRE ON HEI LING CHAU WOULD USE MOST OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE SOUTHERN PART SHOULD BE USED FOR RESITING THE GREEN ISLAND EXPLOSIVES DEPOT IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.*

IN THE MEANTIME THE WHOLE ISLAND WILL MADE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS,

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