11
PROVISIONS ON RECOVERY OF DRUG TRAFFICKING PROCEEDS WIDELY USED
THE PROVISIONS OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING (RECOVERY OF PROCEEDS) ORDINANCE HAVE BEEN WIDELY USED SINCE THE ORDINANCE CAMB INTO OPERATION LAST YEAR.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON DAVID LI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID: "UNDER SECTIONS 10 AND 11 OF THE ORDINANCE, 68 ORDERS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE COURTS FOR THE RESTRAINT OR CHARGING OF PROPERTY WHICH MAY BE LIABLE TO CONFISCATION AS THB PROCEEDS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING.
"THE TOTAL VALUE OF PROPERTY RESTRAINED OR CHARGED HAS BEEN OVER $240 MILLION.
"UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE ORDINANCE, 11 CONFISCATION ORDERS TO A TOTAL VALUE OF OVER $933,000 HAVE BEEN MADE. OF THIS AMOUNT, OVER $306,000 HAS SO FAR BEEN RECOVERED."
THE SECRETARY SAID UNDER SECTION 20 OF THE ORDINANCE, THE COURTS HAD MADE 253 ORDERS FOR MATERIAL TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO AUTHORISED OFFICERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO DRUG TRAFFICKING.
BY
HE SAID THAT A TOTAL OF 196 SEARCH WARRANTS HAD BEEN ISSUED THE COURTS UNDER SECTION 21 OF THE ORDINANCE, AND A TOTAL OF 145 DISCLOSURES OF SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTIONS HAD BEEN MADE TO AUTHORITIES UNDER SECTION 25(3) OF THE ORDINANCE.
THREE PEOPLE HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING UNDER SECTION 25 OF THE ORDINANCE, THE SECRETARY ADDED.
THE
OFFENCES
MOTORBOAT RESTRICTION AT NON-GAZETTED BEACHES
NOT PANACEA TO ENSURE SWIMMERS' SAFETY
THE DESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC LANDING PLACES FOR MOTORBOATS AT NON-GAZETTED BEACHES WOULD NOT IN ITSELF ENSURE THE SAFETY OF SWIMMERS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, MRS CHAN SAID THIS WAS BECAUSE THE WATERS ADJACENT TO NON-GAZETTED BEACHES WERE NOT MARKED OFF FOR SWIMMING AND MOTORBOATS WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO APPROACH A DESIGNATED LANDING PLACE FROM ANY DIRECTION.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE ONLY OTHER OPTION WOULD SEEM TO BE TO PROHIBIT MOTORISED VESSELS FROM ENTERING THE WATERS ADJACENT TO A NON- GAZETTED BEACH,
/"HOWEVER, THE
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