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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1983
DURING THE YEAR, A WHOLE SERIES OF PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES, TARGETTED MAINLY AT YOUNG PEOPLE, WAS ORGANISED AND SUPPORTED. THERE WAS ALSO UNRELENTING EFFORTS BY THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS TO DISRUPT AND HARASS THE ACTIVITIES OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS, MORE STRINGENT LEGAL MEASURES AND EXPANSION OF TREATMENT FACILITIES.
DURING 1982, THERE WERE STRONG INDICATIONS OF A RESURGENCE IN BULK IMPORTATION, THROUGH THE RESUMPTION OF THAI TRAWLER TRAFFIC, BULK SHIPMENTS IN CONTAINER CARGO AND OCEAN-GOING VESSELS AND THROUGH THE KAI TAK AIRPORT, THE REPORT REVEALED,
UPON THE ADVICE OF THE ACAN, FOUR AMENDMENTS TO THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE WERE ENACTED. UNDER ONE OF THESE AMENDMENTS, OWNERS OF SHIPS, CAUGHT SMUGGLING EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS TO HONG KONG ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN 18 MONTHS ARE LIABLE TO A PENALTY OF UP TO $5 MILLION, AND THE SHIP LIABLE TO FORFEITURE IF THE OWNER FAILS TO PAY THE FINE.
+ IT IS HOPED THAT THIS MEASURE WILL BE AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT,+ SIR ALBERT SAID IN THE FOREWORD.
+ IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUED TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF MAKING LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEQUESTRATING THE ASSETS OF CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS,+ HE ADDED.
THE 110-PAGE REPORT GIVES A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGING CHARACTER ISTICS OF HONG KONG'S NARCOTICS SCENE DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW AND RECORDS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE VARIOUS MAJOR PROGRAMMES BEING UNDERTAKEN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION SAID THE REPORT IS AN INFORMATIVE AND HIGHLY READABLE DOCUMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF NARCOTICS ADDICTION IN HONG KONG AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO COMBAT IT.
THE REPORT IS PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE EDITIONS. THE CHINESE EDITION IS BEING PRINTED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
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