cultivation, production, trafficking and smoking of oplum and took a series of strong measures in the fight against opium smoking. Consequently, opium smoking and trafficking was eliminated nationwide in 1952. Under regulations issued by the State Council, narcotics for medical purpose are cultivated, produced and supplied by assigned units and are used exclusively in medical institutions and only when prescribed by a physician. Therefore, medical demand was assured and abuse prevented. In 1985, China acceded to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, an evidence of our active participation in the international afforts for the elimination of the evils of Narcc In recent years, by taking advantage of our reputation, some international drug trafficking gangs have attempted to smuggle narcotics into other countries and regions via certain provinces and cities of China as the transit channel. From 1981 to 1986, Chinese police and customs seized a total of 92 kg of heroin and 233 kg of opium and the customs have tracked down 20 cases of heroin trafficking 43 traffickers of foreign nationalities were convicted. In 1986, 22 kg of heroin were seized by the public security department of Yunnan province, one trafficker of foreign nationlity and another from Hongkong were sentenced to death according to law by Chinese judicial organs.
ng, the Chinese govern-
In view of the rampancy in internationl drug traffic ment is fully aware that our fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking will be a long-term task, across-border smuggling of narcotics will likely be continued, and the increased contact among people living on both sides of the
In the spread of drug abuse. In the southwest
border as well as tourism may
ft
part of China, a few people liig on the frontiers have already addicted to opium smoking; a tew cases of drug dependence resulting from improper use of narcoti drugs and psychotropic substances in medical treatment have been reported. Con- sequently, strict measures of prevention and control have been taken by the govern- ment. In 1983, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted an amendment to article 171 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, stating that whoever engaged li manulature, sale and trafficking of narcotics shall be sentenced to life imp; l.mament or death. when the circumstances are par- ticularly serious". In 1984, the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China was promulgated, in which marcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were scheduled under special control and a certificate system was introduced for their import and export. Over the last few years, we have strengthened our collatoration with the rel:vent agencies of the United Nations, other international organizations and friendly countries, taking an active part in International narcotics control and In the fight