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We will ensure that participants at this Summit are kept informed of and on the progress, both on the recommendations of this special action group, Government's Forward Action Plan. I propose that we have another Summit in a year's time to report progress and to give further impetus to the campaign.
Let me now turn to the main items of the Government's Forward Action Plan. We have grouped these into the same four categories as the discussion here this afternoon. They are the main points in our Forward Action Plan, not the only points in our Forward Action Plan.
First, Law Enforcement
We will be introducing amendments to the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance in this legislative session to make it even more difficult for drug traffickers to launder and retain their illicit profits from drug trafficking.
We will be seeking this legislative session to increase the maximum penalties for the illegal or improper sale of drugs.
We will be adding 38 Police Officers to the Police Narcotics Bureau, a bureau which I have seen for myself does a superb job, to help the bureau to increase its surveillance activities.
We will increase inspections of pharmacies, a point that was made in the outset, from 560 to 700 per month by September this year and set up a special task force to help the prosecution of offending drug retailers.
We will extend statutory licensing controls to 21 precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs.
District Offices throughout the territory will be taking action within the next three months to convene meetings at the district level to co-ordinate local efforts against drugs. We hope to get District Boards, District Fight Crime Committees, education authorities, law enforcement agencies, social work teams, housing authorities and all other agencies involved together in this
process.
The Attorney-General will make a case to the courts for a review of the sentencing guidelines for possession of cannabis for unlawful trafficking.