XN000022-1988-06-22 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988

THAT

HE WAS PLEASED THE ADMINISTRATION HAD AGREED TO DETAIN A PATIENT FOR OBSERVATION SHOULD BE MADE BY A COUNTERSIGNED ONLY BY A JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE, AND NOT BY A THE PEACE.

APPLICATION

DOCTOR AND JUSTICE OF

IS

"THE COUNTER-SIGNATURE BY A JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE, I BELIEVE, FULLY JUSTIFIED, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE LEGAL PROCEDURES ARE COMPLIED WITH, BEARING IN MIND

LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT IS AT STAKE, HE SAID.

■

THE

HE ALSO SAID THAT CLOSE AND CO-OPERATIVE INTERACTION AMONG THE POLICE, THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE JUDICIARY WAS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR THE SMOOTH, EFFICIENT, AND HUMANE ENFORCEMENT OF THE BILL'S PROVISIONS.

MR CHEONG-LEEN NOTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ADVISED THAT THE POLICE WOULD NOT EMPLOY THE POWER UNDER SECTION 718 MORE OFTEN THAN WAS NECESSARY.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE SHOULD CONSIDER IF IT WOULD BE PRACTICAL TO HAVE ON CALL AT STRATEGIC POINTS IN THE TERRITORY A NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO, IN ADDITION ΤΟ THEIR NORMAL DUTIES, WOULD HAVE HAD SPECIAL ORIENTATION IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE BILL'S PROVISIONS.

"PROVIDING TIME PERMITTED, A BEAT POLICEMAN IN CASE OF NECESSITY COULD CALL UPON SUCH TRAINED OFFICERS TO SWIFTLY GIVE SUPPORT OR ASSISTANCE ON-THE-SPOT," HE SAID.

USEFUL WHEN

SUCH SPECIALIST ORIENTATION WOULD BE PARTICULARLY IT CAME TO ENTERING PRIVATE PREMISES UNDER WARRANT IN SEARCH OF ESCAPED MENTAL PATIENTS IN NEED OF CARE AND CONTROL.

HE ADDED THAT THE AD HOC GROUP HAD SAFEGUARDS FOR THE LIBERTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC INTEREST AS WAS PRACTICABLE.

RECOMMENDED AS MANY CONSISTENT WITH THE

WHAT WAS STILL DISQUIETING, HOWEVER, WAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S ADMISSION THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS BEFORE THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE BACK-UP IN HOSPITALS FOR THE PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF THE BILL'S PROVISIONS.

"THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD MONITOR PROGRESS BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN THIS REGARD, OTHERWISE MANY PROVISIONS IN THE BILL WILL BE UNENFORCEABLE DUE TO SHORTAGE OF PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL STAFF," HE SAID.

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