GR 375
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
(*AMENDED COPY* 7 MARCH 1978)
CYPIOR CAT A
FM HONG KONG Ø309552
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 264 OF 3 MARCH 1978.
2
YOUR TELNO 174 PARA 2(A)
MR RON LEWIS' PQ.
تعدد
い
See A
HKK 385
RAVED IN
INDEX
7 MAR
6
12
PA
Chr
}
SUGGEST A REPLY MIGHT BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.
2. DRUG ADDICTION REMAINS ONE OF HONG KONG'S MAJOR PROBLEMS, BUT
THERE ARE ENCOURAGING INDICATIONS THAT THE POSITION IS BEING
CONTAINED.
3. STRENUOUS EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM THROUGH
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION, LOCAL INTERDICTION AND SEIZURE OF NARCOTICS, AND THE REDUCTION OF DEMAND BY TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND PREVENTIVE EDUCATION. THE YARDSTICKS OF SUCCESS ARE SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN, BUT THE FOLLOWING FACTS INDICATE THE TREND:~~ (1) THE SUCCESS OF INTERDICTION AFFECTS THE PRICE OF HEROIN. IN JANUARY 1976 THE WHOLESALE PRICE WAS DOLLARS 19,000 A KILO, IN DECEMBER 1976 IT WAS DOLLARS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT PRICE IS ABOUT DOLLARS 50,000.
*(2) THE NUMBER OF ADDICTS UNDER ALL FORMS OF TREATMENT, SUPERVISION AND AFTER-CARE HAS RISEN FROM 6,000 A DAY IN 1973
THIS SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION TO 15,000 DAILY ON 31 JANUARY 1978.
REFLECTS THE LEVEL AND CALIBRE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PRICE OF HEROIN: THE PROVISION OF A WIDE RANGE OF TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND AFTER-CARE FACILITIES, VOLUNTARY
AND COMPULSORY, IN THE RIGHT PLACES, AND THE SUCCES OF PREVENTIVE
EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY. *
(3) THE NUMBER OF YOUNG ADDICTS HAS DECLINED. THE PERCENTAGE OF
ADDICTS UNDER 21 IN PRISONS DEPARTMENT DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES FELL BETWEEN 1969 AND 1977 FROM 25 PERCENT TO 5.3 PERCENT,
AND AT THE VOLUNTARY TREATMENT CENTRE AT SHEK KU CHAU THE PERCENTAGE UNDER 21 DECREASED FROM 12.5 PERCENT TO 3.6 PERCENT
OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
14. THE
CONFIDENTIAL