XN000022-1991-03-02 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1991

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VMS' ACTIONS AT WHITEHEAD REGRETTED

*

* * *

THE

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF

CORRECTIONAL

SERVICES

HE

(VIETNAMESE UNIT), MR RAYMOND LAI, THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING SAID REGRETTED THAT THE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS SHOULD HAVE AGAIN RESORTED TO VIOLENCE TO SETTLE THEIR DISPUTES.

INCIDENT IN

MR LAI WAS COMMENTING ON THE

SECTION 4 OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE LAST NIGHT IN WHICH 22 VIETNAMESE WERE

INJURED.

BROKE

HE SAID INITIAL ENQUIRIES SHOWED THAT THE VIOLENCE WHICH OUT BETWEEN TWO GROUPS OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN THE SECTION WAS CONTINUATION OF THE FIGHT ON WEDNESDAY.

MR LAI SAID ONE OF THE MAJOR OBSTACLES IN LAST NIGHT'S OPERATION WAS THAT AT ONE STAGE, THE ENTRANCE то THIS SECTION WAS BLOCKED BY ABOUT 400 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO REFUSED TO DISPERSE DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS.

"WE FINALLY MANAGED TO BREAK IN AND THE SITUATION WAS QUICKLY BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL.

"I

IN ALL, 75 CANISTERS OF TEAR GAS WERE USED TO CURB THE FIGHT AND RESTORE ORDER.

MR LAI EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO OFFICERS WHO TOOK PART IN LAST NIGHT'S OPERATION, MANY OF WHOM WERE OFF DUTY OFFICERS WHO WERE CALLED BACK TO ASSIST.

DURING THE OPERATION, TWO OFFICERS, THE SCENE, SUSTAINED INJURIES.

INCLUDING THE COMMANDER AT

REHAB POLICY FOR MENTALLY ILL

KONG

THE EMPHASIS OF THE SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL IN HONG IS ON A COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION PROGRAMME, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS HELEN YU, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

POLICY

IS

GRADUALLY

MOVE

"OUR

TO

AWAY FROM INSTITUTIONALISATION OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS, WHICH NOT ONLY CREATES ISOLATION BUT ALSO UNDUE SOCIAL STIGMATISATION OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS, MRS YU SAID AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 1991.

"INSTEAD, OUR EMPHASIS IS ON A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN AN INTEGRATED AND COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION PROGRAMME.

/"THIS MEANS