TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 28

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Miss Dunn:- While I accept that the Director of Medical and

Health Services is conducting an internal enquiry on the

recommendations of the Coroner's jury, would it not be sensible

in the meantime to make it a matter of routine to provide

interpreters, a matter of routine, not looking around and seeking

'help from relatives; and secondly, is it not a fact that the use

of restrainers is detrimental sometimes in certain conditions

and would it not be sensible to establish guidelines now for

the use of these devices?

Director of Medical and Health Services:- Sir, the intention of

course is that even during the course of the enquiry if it is

found that certain measures could be taken immediately, they

will be taken, for example, guidelines to restrainers; and

that we are considering. As for the interpreters, there is

already an arrangement whereby, as I was saying, friends or

relatives could be brought usually to act as interpreters; if

not, then there is a list which is being provided in the hospital

for interpreters to be called for when necessary.