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THESE MEASURES ACHIEVED OUTSTANDING RESULTS IN 1974. BY 23 DECEMBE
5,107 KGS OF OPIUM PRODUCTS WITH A RETAIL VALUE OF HONG KONG
DOLLARS 126.4 MILLION HAD BEEN SEIZED AND 7 HEROIN REFINERIES AND
2 ACETIC ANHYDRIDE LABORATORIES HAD BEEN DISCOVERED. UNPRECEDENTED
PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN IDENTIFYING AND PROSECUTING MEMBERS OF
MAJOR DRUG IMPORTING AND DISTRIBUTION SYNDICATES - THE FIRST TIME
THIS HAS HAPPENED POST WAR. DRUGS NOW ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY IN HONG
KONG AND PRICES ON THE ILLICIT MARKET AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL EVER. PRESSURE WILL BE MAINTAINED.
A RECENT SURVEY ESTIMATES THAT OVERALL ANTI-NARCOTICS MEASURES
IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD COST ABOUT HONG KONG DOLLARS 25
MILLION ANNUALLY.
FOR MALES THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT OPERATE TWO DRUG ADDICTION
TREATMENT CENTRES WITH A CAPACITY OF 1,168: THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS ONE CENTRE WITH A CAPACITY
FOR 500: THE DISCHARGED PRISONERS AID SOCIETY ONE CENTRE WITH A
CAPACITY FOR 24. IN ADDITION METHADONE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR 4,650 INCLUDING THREE CENTRES FOR 1,000 EACH OPENED AS A SPECIAL MEASURE TO MEET DEMAND BY ADDICTS IN PRESENT SITUATION. FOR FEMALES THERE ARE TWO TREATMENT CENTRES WITH A
CAPACITY FOR 146. NEARLY ALL DRUG ADDICTS IN HONG KONG ARE MALES.
THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (A.C.A.N.) IS NOW.
CONSIDERING PLANS TO INCREASE DRUG TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION
SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE ABOUT 15,000 EACH YEAR AND BY 1980
SOME 35,000 SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. A.C.A.N.
CONDUCTS PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
AIMED PRIMARILY AT THE YOUNG.
(C) A NARCOTICS AND DRUGS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION HAS RECENTLY
BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE
FOR RESEARCH INTO ALL ASPECTS OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION AND FOR DEVELOPING PROGRAMMES OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION.
2
CONFIDENTIAL
}
/ TWO SCHEMES