The debate is on again - with a new twist, with one Wan Chai District councillor suggesting the clinic be moved into a mobile unit. Another says it should be shifted to a hospital.

Other councillors want the clinic to stay, with one calling on opponents to treat the addicts 'with a kind and loving heart'.

At a recent meeting, councillor Kennedy Lee Kai-hung said drug addicts gathering day and night in front of the clinic in O'Brien Road were annoying residents and it should be moved soon.

'Some six to 10 drug addicts usually gather in front of the clinic, which is near the MTR station. This seriously affects Wan Chai's image,' he said. 'We could move it to a nearby hospital.'

Wan Chai district representatives called, without success, for the clinic to be moved in 1996 and 2001. Mr Lee said this was because no one followed up the issue after changes to district council membership following elections.

Both Mr Lee and councillor Mary Ann King Pui-wai said there were drug dealings near the clinic, although they could not produce evidence.

Councillor Anna Tang King-yung said: 'Methadone treatment is not a good policy. It will not free people from drugs.'

But if there had to be a clinic, it should be a mobile one, she said.

Councillor Stephen Yau How-boa said he had been working in Wan Chai for more than 10 years and had never been disturbed by the patients.

'Please treat them with a kind and loving heart,' he said.

Council vice-chairman John Tse Wing-ling said: 'The patients come here because it is near the MTR station. It is very convenient for them to get the treatment.'

The idea of a mobile clinic was dismissed by clinic director Mak Ying-wai, a senior medical officer of the Department of Health's narcotics and drug administration.

'It is hard to have doctors, nurses, social worker and supervisor in a car or bus. There is just not enough space.'

Dr Mak said he had not heard any direct complaints from residents in the 10 years the clinic had been at its site.

'Our patients behave themselves,' he said. 'So far, so good. Currently we have no plan to move the clinic because there are not sufficient reasons to move.'

He said many other methadone clinics had been asked to move because of complaints but none had done so.

A police representative told the council police had not found evidence of drug dealing near the clinic. Council chairwoman Ada Wong Ying-kay suggested the council's social service working group consider doing research on whether the relocation was necessary.

But councillor Paul Siu Che-hung said there was no need.

'The clinic shall not be moved. The patients are not criminals. They have no money; they want to change themselves. We must help them,' Dr Siu said.