XN000022-1987-03-11 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987

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+TWO ASPECTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION ARE THE ADMISSION OF A LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDENTS FROM ABROAD TO THE ACADEMY COURSES, AND THE ROLE OF THE FIRST-YEAR FOUNDATION COURSES, HE ADDED.

MR SOHMEN PRAISED THE GOVERNMENT, THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND SOME FAR-SIGHTED INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR JOINT EFFORTS IN BRINGING ABOUT A BI-CULTURAL, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

THE IR CONCEPT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTION SERVING LOCAL PEOPLE WAS VISIONARY AND HAD FEW PRECEDENTS IN THE WORLD, HE SAID.

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ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR MENTALLY RETARDED RESIDENTS

YMEQADA

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THERE ARE STANDING ARRANGEMENTS AND RULES TO PROTECT MENTALLY RETARDED RESIDENTS IN A REHABILITATION INSTITUTION FROM ABUSE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG, MR BRIDGE SAID THESE INCLUDED THE SEPARATION OF ACCOMMODATION BY SEX, THE PROVISION OF PERSONAL CARE FOR MALE AND FEMALE RESIDENTS BY MALE AND FEMALE STAFF RESPECTIVELY.

THERE WERE CLOSE SUPERVISION OF ANY MALE WORKMAN REQUIRED TO ENTER A FEMALE DORMITORY TO CARRY OUT REPAIRS OR HEAVY WORK, STRICT PROHIBITION OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF ANY RESIDENT, REGULAR AND FREQUENT INSPECTION OF INSTITUTIONS BY SUPERVISORY STAFF, AND GENERAL AWARENESS OF THE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES AMONG THE RESIDENTS AND STAFF CONCERNED, HE ADDED.

+TWO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF FEMALE INMATES BY TWO WARD ATTENDANTS OF A REHABILITATION CENTRE HAVE BEEN MADE IN RECENT WEEKS AND BOTH ALLEGATIONS ARE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE POLICE HE SAID.

+APART FROM THESE THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER ALLEGATIONS OF RAPE OR ABUSE OF MENTALLY RETARDED FEMALE INMATES OF A REHABILITATION INSTITUTION DURING THE LAST THREE. YEARS.+

ON THE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING SUCH COMPLAINTS, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT WHEN A COMPLAINT OF ABUSE IN SUCH AN INSTITUTION WAS RECEIVED, THE SUPERINTENDENT IMMEDIATELY ENQUIRED INTO THE FACTS BY INTERVIEWING THE PARTIES CONCERNED.

/+AT THE