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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1985
+
ON THE NARCOTICS FRONT. THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT EVENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS INDICATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY MUST CONTINUE TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST THE EVER-PRESENT THREAT OF DRUG ABUSE.
+ THE PROGRESS MADE IN 1984 AND IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985 IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF NEWLY REPORTED DRUG ABUSERS IS IN DANGER OF BEING ERODED BY THE LOWEST HEROIN PRICES EVER RECORDED, AND BY THE PERSISTENCE OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS; NOTWITHSTANDING THE RELENTLESS EFFORTS OF THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS WHICH HAVE LED TO MANY SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS AND OFTEN HEAVY SENTENCES,
HE SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AMONG THE YOUNG BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS WILL CONTINUE.
ON MEASURES TO DEPRIVE CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS OF THE IR ILL-GOTTEN AND ENORMOUS PROFITS, SIR EDWARD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CLOSELY EXAMINING THE MEASURES WHICH HAD BEEN ADOPTED OR WERE BEING CONSIDERED BY OTHER COUNTRIES, WITH A VIEW TO DECIDING ON A PRACTICABLE APPROACH FOR HONG KONG IN TACKLING THIS INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM.
MAJOR DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO REDUCE VR POPULATION
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HONG KONG IS PREPARED TO ACCEPT A LIMITED NUMBER OF ETHNIC CHINESE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, BUT ONLY AS PART OF A WIDELY CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL ATTEMPT TO REDUCE ITS REFUGEE POPULATION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
BOTH THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAD MOUNTED A MAJOR DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO THIS END, HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
GIVING AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION, HE SAID VIETNAMESE REFUGEES CONTINUED TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH THE 'CLOSED CENTRE' POLICY HAD REDUCED THE INFLUX.
+THE RATE OF RESETTLEMENT REMAINS DISAPPOINTINGLY LOW- MANY REFUGEES HAVE BEEN IN CAMPS HERE FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS.
+ IN SEPTEMBER, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A RELAXATION OF ITS FAMILY REUNION CRITERIA FOR VIETNAMESE HELD IN CAMPS IN COUNTRIES OF TEMPORARY ASYLUM, HE SAID.
THIS MEANT THAT ABOUT 500 SUCH REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WOULD BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, SIR EDWARD ADDED.
+ THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO CONSIDER ACCEPTING FURTHER LIMITED NUMBERS OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, PROVIDED OTHER COUNTRIES DO THE SAME,+ HE SAID.
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