XN000022-1978-08-12 — Page 2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1978

ACTING GOVERNOR SENDS CONGRATULATIONS TO HK LAWN BOWLS TEAM

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, HAS SENT A MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HONG KONG LAWN BOWLS TEAM IN

EDMONTON, CANADA FOR WINNING TWO GOLD MEDALS IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES.

THE MESSAGE READS +CONGRATULATIONS ON THE HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HONG KONG LAWN BOWLS TEAM, +

PRISON'S DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAMME PRAISED

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.I. LEE, SAID TODAY THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAMME HAS MADE CONSIDERABLE SOCIAL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG.

MR. LEE WAS SPEAKING AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 31 PRISON OFFICERS AND 87 ASSISTANT OFFICERS HELD AT THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.

HE SAID THAT SINCE 1969, ABOUT 13,000 MEN AND 500 WOMEN HAVE BEEN TREATED AT THE FIVE ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES WITH A SUCCESS RATE, ONE YEAR AFTER RELEASE, OF 62 PER CENT FOR MEN AND 75 PER CENT FOR WOMEN OR, AFTER THREE YEARS, OF 42 PER CENT FOR MEN AND 62 PER CENT FOR WOMEN.

+WITH THE CRITERION FOR SUCCESS BEING A DRUG-FREE STATUS, GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND NO RECORD OF RECONVICTION, THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THIS CUSTODIAL PROGRAMME HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE,+ HE REMARKED.

HE ALSO SAID THE CUSTODIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMME, ALONG WITH OTHER ANTI-NARCOTICS PROGRAMMES OF THE GOVERNMENT, HAS MARKEDLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF THOSE ADDICTED TO DRUGS ON ADMISSION TO PRISONS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN 1950, 90 PER CENT OF ALL OFFENDERS IN HONG KONG PRISONS WERE FOUND TO BE ADDICTED TO NARCOTICS ON ADMISSION. BUT NOW, THIS HAS DROPPED TO UNDER 40 PER CENT.

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THE NUMBER OF INMATES IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 HAS DROPPED FROM 25 PER CENT IN 1969 TO FIVE PER CENT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.

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