378 Public Order
information and experience as well as joint action against illicit trafficking, enhances the effectiveness of efforts in all these areas.
Composed of experts in various fields of social, community and other areas of anti-drug work, the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) is a non-statutory body which advises the Government on anti-drug policies and activities. Headed by a chairman, it has 17 unofficial members, two government officials including the Commissioner for Narcotics, and a representative from the Department of Health. Under an arrangement of reciprocal appointment to advisory committees between the Singapore and Hong Kong Governments, the Director of Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau is also invited to sit on the committee to exchange experience with ACAN members.
Legislation and Law Enforcement
To fulfil its international obligations under the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Hong Kong enacted the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance and the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance which provide for the tracing, freezing, confiscation and recovery of the proceeds of drug trafficking and other serious crimes.
Since the enactment of these ordinances, assets valued at $387 million have been confiscated and paid to the Government. As at December 31, 2004, assets amounting to $112 million had been ordered to be confiscated and were pending recovery. A further $1,336 million was restrained pending confiscation proceedings. under these two ordinances.
The Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Regulation 2002, which came into operation in January 2003, brings dance parties at unlicensed premises under licensing control. To dovetail with the implementation of the new licensing arrangement, the Narcotics Division issued a revised Code of Practice for Dance Party Organisers to promote self-regulation by party organisers or venue providers.
The law enforcement agencies, i.e. the Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department, continued to take strong and sustained enforcement action to suppress drug trafficking and related crimes. Both agencies enhanced cooperation and communication with external authorities and achieved fruitful results in the disruption and halting of trans-national trafficking activities and arrest of criminals. Cooperation with Guangdong Province and Macao was also strengthened through the mounting of parallel law enforcement actions, sharing of intelligence, and exchange activities.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Hong Kong adopts a multi-modal approach in providing treatment and rehabilitation services to cater to the different needs of drug abusers from varying backgrounds.
The major drug treatment and rehabilitation services include a compulsory drug treatment programme operated by the Correctional Services Department, a voluntary