XN000022-1986-07-09 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986

18

REHABILITATION METHODS CAN HELP HARNESS TRIADS

**** *

THE IMPORTANCE OF REHABILITATION WORK IN COUNTERING TRIAD ACTIVITIES WAS STRESSED BY THE HON HUL YIN-FAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON OPTIONS TO COUNTER THE TRIAD PROBLEM, MR HU1 DESCRIBED THE DOCUMENT AS +A LAUDABLE ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTAIN THE CANCEROUS GROWTH OF A PERENNIAL SOCIAL PROBLEM+. HE SAID HE FULLY SUPPORTED ITS PROPOSALS.

ON SPECIFIC OPTIONS, HE SAID THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICE SUPERVISION ORDER SCHEME PLACED TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE RESTRICTIVE AND PREVENTIVE EFFECTS OF THE ORDER AND IGNORED THE REHABILITATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF IMPOSING A JUDICIAL PENALTY.

MR HUI SAID A POLICE SUPERVISION ORDER HAD BEEN REPEALED IN 1983, AND SHOULD BE RE-IMPLEMENTED WITH EXTREME DISCRETION, AIMING AT HARD-CORE CASES.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE IMPOSITION OF SUCH AN ORDER SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE COURT UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE POLICE AND PROBATION OFFICERS IN CONSULTATION WITH PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS.

+THIS WAY, THE SUITABILITY OF THE ORDER, IMPOSED AFTER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION ON RE-OFFENDERS WITH REAL NEED, CAN BE GUARANTEED,+ HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE ORDER SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS AND THAT THE SCHEME SHOULD BE REVIEWED AFTER A TRIAL PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.

MR HUI FELT THAT THE POLICE SUPERVISION ORDER AS IT NOW STOOD FAILED TO GET TO THE ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM IN THAT IT HAD NOT PROVIDED OFFENDERS WITH THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE THEM TO GO STRAIGHT UPON COMPLETION OF THE ORDER.

HE SAID SOCIAL WORKERS GENERALLY FAVOURED A MORE BALANCED APPROACH OF EMPLOYING SUCH ADDITIONAL MEANS AS OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK AND REHABILITATION SERVICES TO HELP YOUNG OFFENDERS BREAK FREE FROM THE ASSOCIATION AND INTIMIDATION OF TRIAD GANGS.

+BY OFFERING THEM PREVOCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY HELP THEM TO TURN OVER A NEW LEAF, HE SAID.

MR HUI ALSO SAID HE OBJECTED TO THE OPTION THAT PROHIBITED TRIAD MEMBERS FROM VISITING CERTAIN PUBLIC PLACES.

+APART FROM