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19 JUL 1974
ARKigh
TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1974.
-TREATED DRUG ADDICTS GET NEW LEASE, ON LIFE
THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S HALF-WAY HOUSE PROGRAMME TO HELP TREATED DRUG ADDICTS REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AND LIVE NORMAL LIVES IS PROVING FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL.
THE PROGRAMME IS INTENDED FOR THOSE REHABILITATED ADDICTS WITHOUT A FIXED PLACE OF ACODE OR FAMILY TIES, THOSE WITH UNSATISFACTORY LIVING CONDITIONS OR AN UNDERSIRABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS THOSE DEEKID IN NEED OF CLOSE AND STRICT SUPERVISION.
THE VALUE OF THE PROGRAMME IS SUMMED UP IN THE ATTITUDE OF THE INMATES THEMSELVES WHO FEEL THAT THEIR TEMPORARY STAY IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HALF-WAY HOUSE KNOWN AS THE 'NEV LIFE HOUSE GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO ADJUST TO A BRAND NEW LIFE.
AT PRESENT, THE PROGRAMME IS RUN ON A HODEST SCALE BUT PLANS ARE ALREADY IN HAND TO SUPPLEMENT EXISTING FACILITIES BY BUILDING A LARGER HALF-WAY HOUSE, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, IN LUNG CHEUNG ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE PROPOSED NEW HALF-WAY HOUSE WILL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR 100 MEN AND 20 FEMALES, AND WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS HELPING THE DEPARTMENT TO MEET PROJECTED NEEDS.
ACCORDING TO A PRISONS DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, REHABILITATED DRUG ADDICTS PASSING THROUGH THE HALF-WAY HOUSE STAND A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESSFULLY RETURNING TO A NORMAL LIFE IN SOCIETY. +WITHOUT GUIDANCE, ASSISTANCE AND SUPERVISION TO HELP THEM ADJUST TO A NEU BEGINNING, IT WOULD DE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS THEY MIGHT EXPERIENCE AND THIS COULD HAVE A FORMIDABLE IF NOT FATAL EFFECT ON ALL-ROUND EFFORTS OF THEIR REHABILITATION.+
THE IMMEDIATE PERIOD FOLLOWING DISCHARGE WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR MANY TREATED ADDICTS AND WITHOUT STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS, THEY WERE APT TO SLIP BACK INTO THEIR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, HE SAID.
THE 'NEW LIFE HOUSE' IS LOCATED IN BORROWED PREMISES IN VICTORIA ROAD IN KENNEDY TOWN. IT IS A SHALL THREE-STOREY BUILDING BELONGING TO THE CARITAS ORGANISATION OF HONG KONG AND WHICH HAS BEEN LOANED TO THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT SINCE JULY 1958. THE GROUND FLOOR HOUSES THE KITCHEN, SITTING ROOM, OFFICE AND STAFF QUARTERS, WHILE THE DORMITORIES OCCUPY THE TWO UPPER FLOORS.
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/THE HALF-WAY
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