HEALTH
Legislation and Law Enforcement
Progress was made during the year towards enabling the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances to be extended to Hong Kong. Enactment of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) (Amendment) Ordinance 1995 gave effect to the provisions of Articles 3 and 5 of the Convention. The other main international agreements in this area, the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, have already been extended to the territory.
In 1995, the Royal Hong Kong Police and the Customs and Excise Department seized some 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, 373 kilograms of heroin, 1 070 kilo- grams of cannabis, and two kilograms of cocaine. Joint operations with overseas law enforcement agencies neutralised several international drug-trafficking syndicates. Substantial quantities of dangerous drugs were seized and ringleaders arrested locally and abroad. Police and customs action resulted in the arrest of 16 143 people for drug offences during the year.
Since enactment of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance in 1989, assets to the value of $117.1 million have been ordered to be confiscated and further assets amounting to $161.9 million have been placed under restraint. Of the assets ordered to be confiscated, $207.9 million had been paid to the Hong Kong Government by the end of 1995.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
More treatment facilities were made available during the year to young drug abusers. A new counselling centre for psychotropic substance abusers began service in January 1995. It is known as Direction and is operated by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA). Five more substance abuse clinics were established in different hospital clinics during 1995 to provide medical services to psychotropic substance abusers. Progress was made towards setting up three more residential treatment centres for young opiate abusers and one more out-patient counselling centre for psychotropic substance abusers in the New Territories.
ACAN continued its efforts to improve public acceptance of drug-treatment facilities. Efforts were made to build local support for SARDA's project to relocate its Sister Aquinas Memorial Women's Treatment Centre from Sha Tin to the North District. The new centre is going to expand from 39 to 57 beds. Following the success of the pilot project in 1994, a training course on the prevention of drug abuse and HIV infection for participants from China, Hong Kong and Macau was held in December at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with financial assistance from the World Health Organisation.
Preventive Education and Publicity
Anti-drug publicity in 1995 focused on encouraging young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and to say 'no' to all drugs; educating them on the building up of self-esteem and confidence; and helping them to resist temptation from their peers. Programmes were also designed to foster a community-wide education and support effort to try to halt the growing trend in drug abuse by young people. In all, 12 district campaigns
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