FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1986
DRUG SITUATION HAS STABILISED *****
ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE OF ONE PER CENT IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS OF ALL AGES NEWLY REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE (CRDA) IN 1985 COMPARED WITH 1984, THE OVERALL POSITION REPRESENTED A SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT ON THE FIGURES FOR 1983.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED AT THE 59TH MEETING OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN) HELD THIS WEEK.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR GORDON MORTIMER, POINTED OUT AT THE MEETING THAT IN 1984 THERE HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF 13.3 PER CENT IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS NEWLY REPORTED TO THE CRDA COMPARED WITH 1983.
DURING 1985, A TOTAL OF 470 KILOGRAMS OF ILLICIT OPIATES, MAINLY NO. 3 HEROIN AND HEROIN BASE, AND A TOTAL OF 166 KILOGRAMS OF CANNABIS AND CANNABIS RESIN WERE SEIZED BY POLICE AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS.
IT WAS REPORTED TO THE MEETING THAT SINCE 1982 THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE AND KNOWN ADDICTS HAD REMAINED STABLE AT ABOUT 0.8 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION OVER THE AGE OF 11.
REGARDING PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES, DISTRICT CAMPAIGNS AS WELL AS OTHER ACTIVITIES HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY DURING 1985. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST FOR TELEVISION WERE SCREENED AND SUPPORTING POSTERS WERE RELEASED DURING THE YEAR.
THE PUBLICITY STRATEGY FOR 1986 WILL COVER THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE MORE ADDICTS TO VOLUNTEER FOR TREATMENT.
PREVENTIVE EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK, WILL REMAIN THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE OF ACAN.
REPORTING ON HIS ATTENDANCE AT A MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, MR MORTIMER SAID THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A RESOLUTION OF THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY, A WORLD CONFERENCE AT THE MINISTERIAL LEVEL IS DUE TO BE HELD IN VIENNA IN JUNE 1987. IT WILL BE THE AIM OF THE CONFERENCE TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE AND TO SHOW THAT THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO COMBAT THE DRUG MENACE. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE CONFERENCE SHOULD ADOPT A BROAD PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES WHICH SHOULD BE FOLLOWED AT NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS.
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