Hong Kong Ordinances

MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE - SECT 30

Voluntary patients

(1) If a person appears to require treatment in a mental hospital and if he,
or in the case of a person under the age of 16 years, his parent or guardian-

   (a)  is desirous that such person should receive such treatment; and

   (b)  completes an application in writing; and

   (c)  lodges the application with a medical superintendent, the
        medical superintendent may admit such person as a voluntary patient.

(2) A voluntary patient-

   (a)  shall be entitled to leave the mental hospital after the expiration of
        7 days from his, or if he is under the age of 16 years, his parent or
        guardian, giving notice in writing; or, in the discretion of the
        medical superintendent, verbal notice, to the medical superintendent
        of the intention of the voluntary patient to leave the
        mental hospital: Provided that a medical superintendent may in his
        absolute discretion discharge a voluntary patient at any time within
        such period of 7 days; and

   (b)  shall leave the mental hospital within 72 hours after he, or if he is
        under the age of 16 years his parent or guardian, has received from
        the medical superintendent notice in writing, signed by the medical 
        superintendent, stating that the medical superintendent is satisfied
        that it is not necessary that the voluntary patient should remain in
        the mental  hospital and that the voluntary patient is required to
        leave the mental  hospital.

(3) A person who became a voluntary patient when he was under the age of 16
years shall not remain in a mental hospital as a voluntary  patient for more
than 28 days after he has attained the age of 16 years unless during such
period of 28 days he shall have completed and lodged with the
medical superintendent such application as is referred to in subsection (1).

(4) A medical superintendent may detain in a mental hospital, for observation
and treatment, a person who has been admitted as a voluntary  patient until
the expiration of 7 days from the time when such notice as is referred to in
subsection (2)(a) has been given or, in the case of a person who was admitted
as a voluntary patient when he was less than 16 years of age, until the
expiration of 28 days after the voluntary patient has attained the age of 16
years.