XN000022-1993-02-24 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1993

"THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE COUNSELLING SERVICES HAS BEEN WIDELY PUBLICISED WITHIN THE FORCE, HE SAID.

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IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, A TOTAL OF 15 POLICE OFFICERS DIED AFTER COMMITTING SUICIDE.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE THREE SUECTORS IN THE SERVICES, ONE IN THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, ONE IN THE CUSTOMS EXCISE DEPARTMENT AND NONE IN THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

FIRE AND

HOWEVER, MR ASPREY SAID THE STRENGTH OF THE POLICE FORCE, AT AROUND 27,000 WAS MUCH LARGER THAN THAT OF THE OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES.

"FINANCIAL

DIFFICULTIES, FAMILY PROBLEMS, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE SOME OF THE KNOWN CAUSES OF THESE SUICIDES; MANY RESULT FROM A COMBINATION OF FACTORS, HE SAID.

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MR ASPREY SAID OFFICERS WHOSE CIRCUMSTANCES SUGGESTED THAT THEY MIGHT BE UNDER CONSIDERABLE STRESS AND, THEREFORE, PRONE TO SUICIDE, WERE GIVEN SPECIAL ATTENTION.

"APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE IS SOUGHT FROM THEIR FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES OR FORMATION COMMANDERS,

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HE SAID.

THIS ASSISTANCE MIGHT INCLUDE RESTRICTING THE OFFICERS' ACCESS TO FIREARMS AND TRANSFERRING THEM TO LESS STRESSFUL POSTS.

THE

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO TAKE OVER

NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE * * * * *

→

SAID

TODAY

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, (WEDNESDAY) THAT A PHASED PROGRAMME HAD BEEN WORKED OUT FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO GRADUALLY WITHDRAW FROM THE PROVISION OF NON- EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES.

THIS FOLLOWS DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AND BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY LAST YEAR.

THE

UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENT, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL TAKE OVER NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES IN STAGES, STARTING WITH HONG KONG ISLAND ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, THEN KOWLOON ON JANUARY

NEXT YEAR AND FINALLY THE NEW TERRITORIES ON APRIL 1, 1995.

REPLYING ΤΟ 4 QUESTION BY THE HON TIK CHI YUEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID THE MOVE WOULD ENABLE THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO MAKE BETTER USE OF ITS RESOURCES AND TO ON ITS PRIMARY ROLE AS THE PROVIDER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

FIRE FOCUS

/HE ADDED