2
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1992
INITIATIVES TAKEN TO HIT DRUG TRAFFICKERS
* * * * *
ΤΟ HIT
THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES IN RECENT TIMES THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS HARD, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS, MR JOHN WOOD, SAID IN OXFORD IN ENGLAND TODAY (MONDAY).
ADDRESSING A FIVE-DAY CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL AND WHITE COLLAR CRIME, MR WOOD SAID NEARLY EVERY COUNTRY HAD IN
OR WAS PUTTING INTO PLACE LEGISLATION то SEIZE THE PROCEEDS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND TO MAKE MONEY LAUNDERING A CRIMINAL OFFENCE.
"THERE ARE NOW MANY BILATERAL TREATIES BETWEEN LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES DETERMINED TO EXTRACT AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE FROM CRIMINALS AND TO PUT THE HANDLERS OF DRUGS MONEY AS WELL AS THE TRAFFICKERS THEMSELVES BEHIND PRISON BARS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THE
"BUT THE DRUG TRADE, AS WE KNOW, IS INTERNATIONAL AND REQUIRES UTMOST CO-OPERATION BETWEEN INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES. MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IS VITAL, ** HE SAID.
TURNING TO ANOTHER SUBJECT, MR WOOD SAID ONE OF THE TRUISMS LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS THAT ONE WOULD NEVER ELIMINATE CORRUPTION.
"IT IS A COVERT CRIME AND UNLESS ONE OF BRIBERY DECIDES TO GO TO THE POLICE OR THERE IS IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO GET SUFFICIENT AN OFFENCE.
OF
THE PARTIES TO THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE EVIDENCE TO PROVE
MR WOOD ADDED: "HONG KONG DOES NOT SUFFER FROM AS MUCH CORRUPTION AS A FEW YEARS AGO DUE TO A STEELY DETERMINATION TO ELIMINATE IT BY A MIXTURE OF EXHORTATION, EDUCATION AND AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC) WHICH HAS HAD MUCH SUCCESS IN ITS INVESTIGATIONS.
"BUT BECAUSE CORRUPTION IS A COVERT CRIME IT IS VERY DIFFICUL" TO INVESTIGATE BY TRADITIONAL POLICE METHODS EXERCISING TRADITIONA POLICE POWERS.
"FOR THIS REASON THE ICAC HAS BEEN GIVEN VERY SUBSTANTIA. POWERS OF INVESTIGATION, WELL BEYOND THOSE GIVEN TO THE POLICE.
"IT SEEMS то ME, " HE SAID, "IN THESE DAYS OF ECONOMIC SOPHISTICATION IT IS NECESSARY THAT POWERS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES, AT LEAST TO ENABLE INFORMATION ΤΟ BE GATHERED EVEN IF THE ANSWERS ARE NOT ADMISSIBLE IN EVIDENCE.
11
HE POINTED OUT THAT PERHAPS THE MOST NOTABLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION RECENTLY PASSED IN HONG KONG WAS THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE, EFFECTIVE FROM JUNE 8, 1991.
ITS ADVENT HAD MEANT THAT FOUR MEMBERS OF HIS DIVISION AND HE SPENT MUCH OF THEIR TIME WRESTLING WITH ITS PROVISIONS AND THE EFFEC OF THOSE PROVISIONS BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE MADE IT CLEAR THAT ANY STATUTORY PROVISION WHICH WAS INCONSISTENT WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS HAD TO BE TREATED AS REPEALED AND SUCH REPEAL COULD BE DECLARED BY ANY COURT.
/"ONE OF
------