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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1982

IN ADDITION, A NEW APPROACH HAS BEEN ADOPTED IN THE COMPILATION OF TRADE INDEXES, STARTING IN 1982. TO REDUCE THE NON-PRICE FLUCTUATIONS WITHIN THE UNIT VALUE OF A COMMODITY ITEM CAUSED BY COUNTRY DIFFERENCES, COUNTRIES WITH SIMILAR PRICE CHARACTERISTICS ARE GROUPED TOGETHER TO FORM REGIONS, AND THE CURRENT PERIOD UNIT VALUE FOR EACH REGION OF THE COMMODITY ITEM IS COMPARED WITH ITS AVERAGE UNIT VALUE IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS REFINEMENT IN CALCULATION PROCEDURE SHOULD IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF THE UNIT VALUE INDEXES, AND HENCE THE QUANTUM

INDEXES.

THE JULY DIGEST IS ON SALE AT HK$18 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, HONG KONG.

ADDICTS' NEED FOR JOBS STRESSED ****

NEXT TO MEDICAL SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN FREEING AN ADDICT FROM DRUGS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A TEA PARTY GIVEN BY THE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COMMITTEE FOR VOLUNTARILY REHABILITATED DRUG ABUSERS, MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT FIRSTLY WORK PROMISED THE FIRST RETURN TO SELF-RESPECT AND A DISCIPLINED WAY OF LIFE BY A DRUG ADDICT ESSENTIAL FOR STARTING THE REHABILITATION PROCESS.

SECONDLY, THE PATTERN OF DAILY WORK GETS THE ADDICT AWAY FROM THE DRUG CULTURE AND BACK INTO THE NORMAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH VALUES AND REWARDS PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES.

+AND THIRDLY, THE ADDICT CAN START TO LOOK AFTER HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY AGAIN, REDUCING THE DANGER OF ITS INSTABILITY AND THE RISK OF THE CHILDREN BEING DAMAGED BY STRAINS OF AN ADDICTED PARENT, HE SAID.

MR ALLEYNE SAID IT WAS NOT ONLY THE ADDICT HIMSELF WHO SUFFERED: THE VICTIMS ALSO INCLUDED HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

AND SOCIETY HAD TO HELP SUPPORT THE COSTS OF TREATING AND REHABILITATING THE ADDICT, ASSISTING HIS FAMILY AND ENFORCING THE LAW+.

+ THE PROCESS OF LIBERATION FROM DRUG ADDICTION IS LONG AND PAINFUL, HE SAID.

MR ALLEYNE SAID ADDICTION HAD COMPLEX SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES AND WAS NOT SIMPLY THE RESULT OF CRIMINAL SELF-INDULGENCE.

SOCIETY COULD HELP IN THE REHABILITATION OF ADDICTS THOUGH THIS WAS A LONG PROCESS, HE SAID.

THE PIONEERING EFFORTS OF THE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COMMITTEE SHOWED HOW MUCH COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS FIELD.

THE COMMITTEE, SET UP IN 1975, FINDS JOBS FOR EX-ADDICTS AND PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT COUNSELLING, PETTY CASH AND INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO THEM,