XN000022-1985-06-05 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1985

'ARRANGEMENT TO ASSIST CONTINUITY OF EXPERIENCE'

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IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUESTIONS CONCERNING APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

+THE DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF APPOINTMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE SIMPLY TO ARRANGE THAT ANY FUTURE CHANGES OR REAPPOINTMENTS IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL DO NOT OCCUR ALL IN THE SAME YEAR. THIS ARRANGEMENT ASSISTS CONTINUITY OF EXPERIENCE IN THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL.

+AS TO WHICH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE DEFINITELY RETIRING AND WHICH WILL BE SEEKING ELECTION, IT IS A MATTER FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWING HAVE INDICATED A DEFINITE INTENTION TO RETIRE: SIR ROGER LOBO, DR HARRY FANG, MR ALEX WU, MR WONG LAM AND MR W.C.L. BROWN.

+MR STEPHEN CHEONG HAS INDICATED AN INTENTION TO STAND FOR ELECTION IN THE INDUSTRIAL CONSTITUENCY, AND MR KEITH LAM HAS INDICATED AN INTENTION TO STAND FOR ELECTION IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

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• +AS REGARDS WHO WILL FILL THE SEATS IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL LEFT VACANT BY SIR ROGER LOBO'S AND MR F.W. LI'S RETIREMENT, A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE IN DUE COURSE.+

IMPORTANCE OF HALF-WAY HOUSES STRESSED

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HALF-WAY HOUSES FOR THE EX-MENTALLY ILL ARE A MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE REHABILITATION PROCESS FOR SUFFERERS FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE 1985 ZONTA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, MR CHAMBERS SAID WHEN PATIENTS WERE DISCHARGED FROM MENTAL HOSPITALS, IT WAS MOST DESIRABLE THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELPED TO RE-INTEGRATE GRADUALLY INTO THE COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN TO BE SENT STRAIGHT BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEIR PROBLEMS DEVELOPED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

+ IN A HALF-WAY HOUSE THERE ARE STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO HELP WITH PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE, AND TO RECOGNISE THE SYMPTOMS OF AN IMPENDING RELAPSE, HE SAID.

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