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CONFIDENTIAL
DESPERATION OR LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO DRUGS.
6. THE PSYCHAIATRIST'S REPORT DATED 4 FEBRUARY READS AS FOLLOWS:
QUOTE I FIRST INTERVIEWED THE ABOVE-NAMED IN JULY 1973 FOR A OUTINE PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT AND AGAIN IN JANUARY 1974. THERE HAS NIVER BEEN ANY PSYCHOTIC FEATURES IN THE FORM OF HALLUCINATION DELUSION, THOUGHT DISORDER OR MOOD INCONGRUITY ELICITED IN HIM AND HIS MEMORY IS UNIMPAIRED AND INTELLIGENCE AVERAGE.
HE ADMITS A HISTORY OF NARCOTIC ADDITION MOSTLY OPIUM AND HEROIN FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, WHEN HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT
PSYCHIATRIC UNIT ON 10.7.73 HE WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE MILD NARCOTIC WITHDRAWAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TREATED,
AT PRESENT HE IS FREE FROM ANY FORM OF DRUG ADDICTION AND WELL
MAINTAINED AND STABLE IN HIS MENTAL CONDITION.
ALTHOUGH HE HAS HAD SUCH A CHRONIC HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE,
HE HAS NEVER SHOWN ANY EVIDENCE OF PSYCHOTIC FEATURES, NOR ANY OTHER
PSYCHATRIC COMPLICATION AS A SEQUELA TO HIS EXCESSIVE
INDULGENCE IN DRUGS WHICH, IN THIS RESPECT, HAD NOT EFFECTED HIS MENTAL RESPONSIBILITY...UNQUOTE.
7. PERHAPS I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT WHILE ADDICTION IN HONG KONG
IS A VERY COMMON CAUSE OF PETTY CRIME TO OBTAIN MONEY FOR DRUGS, THE VIOLENCE AND DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY ASSOCIATED WITH ADDICTION
IN OTHER COUNTRIES E.G. THE UNITED STATES IS SO FAR UNKNOW HERE.
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE MUCH LOWER DOSAGE NORMAL IN HONG KONG
AND THE MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF TOLERANCE.
8. THE PRISONER WAS EXAMINED BY A GOVERNMENT DOCTOR SOON AFTER HIS ARREST. THE LATTER IS OUT OF HONG KONG AT PRESENT BUT HIS WRITTEN REPORT SHOWS THAT AT THAT TIME THE PRISONER WAS MENTALLY CLEAR. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS NORMALLY VERY WILLING TO ACCEPT DRUNKENNESS AS A MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN CONSIDERING A DEATH
SENTENCE, BUT I THINK IT UNLIKLEY THAT THEY WOULD SO ACCEPT A
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CONFIDENTIAL
/INANE HISTORY OF
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