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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979
→INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION, IMPROVED INTERDICTION BY BOTH THE CUSTOMS SERVICE AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE, VOLUNTARY AND COMPULSORY TREATMENT OF ADDICTS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, HAVE ALL PLAYED THEIR PART.
BUT THIS YEAR FAILURE OF THE POPPY CROP IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE HAS ALSO HAD A DRAMATIC EFFECT. THE COMBINATION OF ALL THESE FACTORS HAS INCREASED THE PRICE OF HEROIN IN HONG KONG BY 500 PER CENT,+ HE SAID,
AS A RESULT, SIR MURRAY OBSERVED, ATTENDANCE AT METHADONE CLINICS HAS INCREASED BY 80 PER CENT SINCE JANUARY, AND THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS IN DAILY TREATMENT, REHABILITATION, OR AFTER-CARE HAS RISEN TO 15 000.
IN ADDITION, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS FOUND TO BE ADDICTED WHEN ENTERING PRISON DROPPED FROM 5 400 IN 1973 TO 4 700 IN 1976 AND IS LIKELY TO BE ABOUT 2 000 BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. DURING THE CORRESPONDING PERIODS, THE NUMBER OF THOSE UNDER 21 TREATED IN DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES HAS DROPPED FROM 260 TO 186 AND TO 65 THIS YEAR.
+THIS IS THE TREND FOR WHICH MANY HAVE WORKED LONG AND HARD, + SIR MURRAY SAID.
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ON COMMERCIAL LAW
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A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ON COMMERCIAL LAW TO ENSURE A GREATER FLOW OF INFORMATION TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION FOR SHAREHOLDERS OF LISTED PUBLIC COMPANIES WILL BE PUT BEFORE THE NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROPOSAL WOULD BE A MAJOR REVISION OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.
MOST OF THE CHANGES INVOLVE UP-DATING THE LAW TO PROVIDE FOR EVOLVING COMMERCIAL PRACTICES AND MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN FORESHADOWED IN THE SECOND REPORT OF THE COMPANIES LAW REVISION COMMITTEE,+ HE SAID.
OTHER PROPOSALS INCLUDE UP-DATING THE SECURITIES ORDINANCE AND THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE IN THE LIGHT OF OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION OF INVESTOR- FURTHER PROGRESS ON LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY- A BILL TO IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM OF MINIMUM LIQUIDITY RATIOS FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES AND TO WIDEN THE LIST OF SPECIFIED LIQUID ASSETS FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES- AND ANOTHER BILL TO AMEND THE LIST OF SPECIFIED LIQUID ASSETS FOR BANKS.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION HAS ALSO COMPLETED ITS INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PRESENT SITUATION AND WOULD SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR NEXT MONTH ON HOW POLICIES SHOULD BE CHANGED SO AS TO BENEFIT OUR FUTURE.
SIR MURRAY SAID THE REPORT WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH.
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