CONF DENTIAL
6.
5.
positive phase in combatting drug addiction.
The
10,000 or so addicts in Hong Kong represent a major
domestic and international problem. The only
prospect of eradication lies in a simultaneous attack
on the lines of supply from Thailand, the local
distribution syndicates, and the provision of a mass
cure for addicts. Success in less than all three
simultaneously is bound to be ephemeral.
Better
liaison with Thailand and other measures have pro-
duced new success on the first, and different police
methods equal success on the second.
International
experts encourage us to believe that the results in
two pilot schemes of a cure for drug addiction
capable of application en masse without hospitalisation
or incarceration justify widened application. We
accordingly plan a substantial increase in provision
for a cure along these lines this year.
f) Finally, new and encouraging progress has also been
made in the provision of facilities for and organisation
of recreation and sport. This is a social necessity
in such a densely packed and very young population.
The budget was drafted to maintain as
-
much momentum as possible in these fields and incidentally,
through them, economic activity and employment
in the
/face of massive
CONFIDENTIAL