PUBLIC ORDER
Overall Strategy and Co-ordination
The five-pronged approach in combating drug trafficking and abuse covers law. enforcement, preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, research, and international co-operation.
Effective law enforcement curtails illicit drug supply and induces drug abusers to seek treatment voluntarily. It also brings compulsory treatment to many who are convicted and have a drug dependency. A comprehensive range of treatment and rehabilitation services is provided to meet the different needs of drug abusers from varying backgrounds.
Preventive education and publicity programmes are organised across the HKSAR and at the local level to increase public awareness of the drug problem and to encourage people to adopt a drug-free lifestyle. Research studies are conducted on various aspects of the drug abuse problem and the findings facilitate the planning of suitable anti-drug strategies and programmes. Co-operation at the international level, through exchange of information and experience as well as joint action against illicit trafficking, enhances the effectiveness of efforts in all these areas.
These anti-drug efforts are co-ordinated by the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN), a non-statutory body comprising 15 members, of whom 13 are non-officials. It advises the Government on anti-drug policies and activities and is serviced by the Narcotics Division of the Government Secretariat, which is headed by the Commissioner for Narcotics.
Legislation and Law Enforcement
An important development in 2000 was the enactment of the Organised and Serious. Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, which imposes statutory anti-money laundering requirements on money changers and remittance agents. From June 1, all money changers and remittance agents are required to identify customers and to keep records of transactions involving $20,000 or more. Under the new law, money changers and remittance agents are also required to notify the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit, jointly operated by the Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department, of their operation so that the unit can maintain a central register. A guideline on the new requirements was issued to money changers and remittance agents.
Legislative amendments were also proposed to enhance the provisions in the law concerning confiscation of illicit assets and penalties for money laundering offences.
Vigorous law enforcement action reduced the supply of drugs during the year. (The work of the Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department in this regard is referred to earlier in this chapter - see sections on Narcotics under Police Force and Anti-narcotics Operations under Customs and Excise).
Since the enactment of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance in 1989, assets valued at $423.3 million have been confiscated, and $352.45 million of this has been paid to the Government. By the end of the year, assets amounting to $70.5 million were under restraint.
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