0003160 G.F. 316
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17.
While drug addiction has long been a feature of prison life in Hong Kong with special attention given to drug addicts in gaol for many years, nevertheless it became evident to the Prison Authorities in the mid-1950's that a more positive and comprehensive programme of treatment and rehabilitation was required than had been attempted hitherto if prison sentences were to serve a constructive purpose leading to drug dependence being reduced and addicts properly cured and reintegrated into society. With this aim in view, a special institution called H.M. Prison, Tai Lam, with accommodation for 700 male addicts, was opened in November 1958 as a treatment and rehabilitation centre for selected drug addict prisoners. Up to the end of October 1972, 20,177 prisoners had received a course of treatment at Tai Lam. The shortfall of accommodation in terms of the numbers of drug dependent prisoners suitable for treatment, coupled with the success over the years of the Tai Lam project, led to the opening of the Ma Po Ping Addiction Treatment Centre on Lan Tau Island in January 1972 with a maximum capacity of 660. The Centre is fully occupied and is run along the same lines as Tai Lam.
18.
In 1969 the Tai Lam Centro for Women was established with accommodation for 116 inmates to treat drug dependent female prisoners. Prior to this women were treated at the Lai Chi Kək Female Prison now closed. The great majority of persons sent to prison in Hong Kong are men and this is reflected in the compara- tively few drug dependent women prisoners who have been treated so far at Tai Lam; by the 31st October, 1972 the number was 109.
19.
On the 11th November, 1959 a White Paper was laid before the Legislative Council which set out the position regarding narcotic drugs in Hong Kong at that time. It touched upon the problems created by the prevalence here of illicit drugs in terms of addiction and made mention of the social consequences arising therefrom. The conclusion reached was that drug addiction was one of the Colony's greatest social and economic problems. The strategy recommended as a result of that survey is summarised in paragraph four of this paper.
20.
At the turn of the decade it was too early to reach any assessment as to the success or otherwise of the Tai Lam experiment. It was clear, however, that whatever the position turned out to be in this respect it was not desirable that a drug addict who wanted to be cured of his own volition should have to get sent to prison first, no form of organised treat- ment being available elsewhere. To remedy this state of affairs, a pilot project for the treatment of drug dependent persons was instituted at the new Castle Peak Hospital in 1960.
It was intended to be an experimental scheme to ascertain the extent of the need for voluntary treatment to cure addiction in order that Government might be able to evaluate the requirement for a separate voluntary treatment centre for drug addicts.
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