XN000022-1988-06-22 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988

FOR

OF

"WE ALREADY HAVE A WELL DEVELOPED AND COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM REDRESSING THE GRIEVANCES FELT BY THE PUBLIC ARISING FROM THE ACTS THE GOVERNMENT, BASED ON AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY, A PARTIALLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE AND A RANGE OF OTHER CHANNELS.

"OMELCO IS WELL ESTABLISHED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF ALL TYPES.

AS THE FOCUS FOR COMPLAINTS

"THE INTRODUCTION OF ANY OMBUDSMAN-LIKE AUTHORITY HAS INTO ACCOUNT THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS AND BE CAREFULLY DESIGNED OVERLAP WITH THE EXISTING REDRESS SYSTEM, SIR DAVID SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

TO TAKE NOT то

SHW GIVES REASSURANCES ON MENTAL HEALTH BILL

THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER IS ALREADY TAKING

WORKING GROUP STEPS TO SET UP A

то EXAMINE THE ISSUE OF MAKING SEPARATE LEGISLATION RELATING ΤΟ THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED,

THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE,

SAID LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

IN

THE

BILL WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH (AMENDMENT}

1987,

RATHER COMPLEX PROBLEMS

BE CONCLUSION

WITHIN THE

REACHED

MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT IT WAS HOPED THAT THE INVOLVED COULD BE RESOLVED AND A NEXT 18 MONTHS.

HE SAID THAT CLEARLY ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PARTS OF THE BILL WAS THE NEW SECTION 71B WHICH GAVE POWERS TO THE POLICE TO

HOSPITAL FOR REMOVE MENTALLY DISTURBED PEOPLE TO

EXAMINATION BY A

DOCTOR.

NOTING THAT SOME MEMBERS WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT THIS PREMISES ΤΟ PROVISION MIGHT GIVE THE POLICE POWERS TO ENTER DOMESTIC REMOVE A SUSPECTED MENTAL PATIENT, MR CHAMBERS EMPHASISED THAT NO POWERS OF ENTRY WERE CONFERRED ON THE POLICE UNDER THE BILL.

NEW

"PROVISIONS IN SECTION 71B ARE CONSIDERED NECESSARY то ALLOW

CARE POLICE OFFICERS TO TAKE ACTION TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE

CONTROL OR OWN INTEREST OF A PERSON WHEN NECESSARY, EITHER IN HIS

THAT OR OTHER PEOPLE," HE SAID.

OF

/**THE POWERS