ENG-1987 — Page 273

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PUBLIC ORDER

Bauhinia House serves as a halfway house for girls released under supervision from the training centre.

Drug Addiction Treatment

The Drug Addiction Treatment Centre Ordinance (Chapter 244 of the Laws of Hong Kong) empowers the courts to sentence drug addicts found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment to detention in a drug addiction treatment centre. The period of detention ranges from two months to 12 months, depending on individual inmate's progress. This is followed by a 12-month statutory aftercare supervision.

There are two drug addiction treatment centres for male addicts. Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre accommodates adult addicts, and the nearby Nei Kwu Chau Addiction Treatment Centre is for those under the age of 21. For female addicts, the treatment centre for adults is located in Tai Lām Centre for Women and for young addicts it is at Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution. At the end of the year, there were 1 013 inmates undergoing treatment: 820 were in Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, 110 in Nei Kwu Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, 73 in Tai Lam Centre for Women and 10 in Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution.

The drug addiction treatment programme aims to detoxify and to restore the physical health of the drug addicts, and then, through the application of therapeutic and reha- bilitative treatment, to wean addicts from their physical, psychological and emotional dependence on drugs.

Assistance for re-adjustment, such as post-release employment and accommodation, as well as intensive follow-up supervision by an after-care officer are important parts of the programme. Temporary residence is available in New Life House, a halfway house, for those in need of such support immediately following release. Contravention of supervision requirements may result in a supervisee being recalled for further treatment.

After-care Services

After-care plays an important role in helping inmates to reintegrate into society after release, and to lead an industrious and law-abiding life. This service is available to inmates from training centres, detention centres, drug addiction treatment centres and young prisoners.

The after-care programme begins immediately after admittance to an institution. An after-care officer interviews him and discusses his immediate problems with a view to helping him cope with institutional life. A sound relationship between the inmate, his family and the after-care officer is established to help the inmate overcome obstacles to rehabilitation.

Inmates are assisted, through individual and group counselling, to gain a better insight into problems arising from their social inadequacies. They are helped to become better prepared to cope with these difficulties upon release.

After-care officers regularly contact the supervisees after their release. They provide them with assistance and guidance, and ensure that the terms of the supervision order are strictly complied with. Breach of a supervision order may result in the person being recalled for a further period of detention.

The success of the programmes is measured by the percentage of persons who complete their supervision period without reconviction and, where applicable, remaining drug free. At the end of the year, 94 per cent successfully completed their detention centre supervision. Percentages at the end of 1987 were: 66 in the case of the male training centre inmates, 93 in