XN000022-1993-09-28 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1993

PROSECUTION PROCEDURES FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED UNDER REVIEW

* * *

NEED FOR SPECIAL THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE

HANDLING OF CASES INVOLVING THE ATTENTION AND SENSITIVE

MENTALLY

HANDICAPPED.

PROSECUTION

ΤΟ PROCEDURES

TAKE

IT IS REVIEWING ITS INTERNAL ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY THE REMARK WAS MADE BY A SPOKESMAN

A DELEGATION (TUESDAY) AFTER

FROM OF 200 REPRESENTATIVES

SOCIAL SERVICES GROUPS AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CONCERNED GROUPS HANDED IN A AND THE HEALTH AND PETITION TO THE JUDICIARY, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT

A SPECIAL COURT WELFARE BRANCH, REQUESTING SEPERATE LEGISLATION AND FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

"THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO STUDY PROSECUTION USED IN OTHER COUNTRIES," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

PROCEDURES

CAREFULLY

ALL

PROTECTION OF THE REFLECT THE VIEWS AND THE HEALTH AND WELFARE

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL CONSIDER VERY REPRESENTATIONS HE RECEIVES ON THE ISSUE OF LEGAL RIGHTS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND WILL WISHES OF CONCERNED GROUPS TO THE JUDICIARY, BRANCH AND A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WORKING GROUP.

YEAR, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN

THIS FEBRUARY SINCE

WITH THE WORKING WORKING CLOSELY WAH-MING.

GROUP

MR CONVENED BY

FRED LI

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, MR JOHN

WILL WOOD, ADDRESSING THE WIDER CONTINUE TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO LEGISLATORS IN ISSUES AFFECTING THE TREATMENT OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED IN COURT.

IN

OF HEALTH

ACTIVELY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO BEEN

PARTICIPATING THE COMMISSIONER AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY REHABILITATION, TO DISCUSS PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MENTAL ORDINANCE.

A SPECIAL AS REGARDS THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S SUGGESTION TO SET UP WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY A HIGH COURT JUDGE AND COMPRISING MEMBERS OF TO STUDY POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND NON-GOVERNMENT GROUPS, CHANGES TO HELP HANDICAPPED PERSONS WHEN GIVING EVIDENCE IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ALREADY REPLIED TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO HIS SUPPORT IN PRINCIPLE

CRYSTALISE SUCH A

AND HIS

EAGERNESS

TO

A TRIAL,

SHOW

PROPOSAL.

IT HAD BEEN THE

LEGAL

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REITERATED THAT DEPARTMENT'S CONSISTENT POLICY NOT TO COMMENT ON ANY INDIVIDUAL CASE.

INDIVIDUAL

BE

OR

DISCUSSED INNOCENCE.

ΤΟ CASE "IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR

A

GUILT DISCUSSION INTO SINCE THAT COULD LEAD INTO THESE ARE MATTERS FOR THE COURTS, AND THE COURTS ALONE.

DEPARTMENT WAS SENT LAST THURSDAY ΤΟ YOUNG WOMAN, HE

"THEREFORE, NO RRPRESENTATIVE FROM LEGAL

MEETING GROUP TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WORKING

MUTE, DEAF, BRIEF MEMBERS OF THE RAPE CASE OF EXPLAINED.

A

rt

/HOWEVER, THE