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In 1963 as a result of experience gained during the previous 5 years it was decided that in addition to the maximum of 3 years a minimum sentence of 6 months would also be necessary. Sentences shorter than 6 months resulted in virtually all those involved being discharged before the treatment programme could have any real effect. However further experience accrued after 1963 indicated that sentences fixed by the court did not in
many cases expire at the time the man had reached the peak of his response to the programme. As a result some prisoners were being discharged before reaching the peak of their response and others were having to be held after reaching it and no administrative machinery was available to rectify this. In addition as after-care was voluntary it usually turned out that those
who most needed after-care were the ones who did not volunteer for it.
NEW LEGISLATION
New legislation was therefore planned to introduce an indeterminate period of detention for treatment with a minimum of six months and a maximum of eighteen months for a convicted person, regardless of the nature of his offence, subject to establishing that he is in fact drug dependent and likely to respond to treatment. It must be emphasised that drug addiction itself is not an offence, nor would it be practicable to make it one.
The innovations at Tai Lam gave the Prisons Department the unique distinction of being the first organization or department to embark upon a planned programme of treatment for drug dependents in Hong Kong. In addition, the department was also involved in the first research study into treatment methods when, in 1957, the then Medical Officer of Victoria Prison, Dr. LEE Cheng-ong, in co-operation with Dr. C. Gruhzit, Pharmacologist of the University of Hong Kong, commenced a research study to investigate the use of Memprobromate for use during the withdrawal syndrome.
During the period 1958 to 1968 a total of 17,501 prisoners passed through the Tai Lam Treatment Centre. Of this total, 3,485 volunteered for after-care, which commenced in 1960.
DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES ORDINANCE
The Drug Addiction Treatment Centres Ordinance became law on 17th January, 1969. Under this ordinance the Governor may by order appoint
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