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Drug abuse in Pillar Point Vietnamese Refugee Centre
Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong Wai- yin and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Ken Woodhouse, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
It is reported that there is a serious problem of drug abuse in the Pillar Point Open Detention Camp. Will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
of the total number of detainees addicted to drugs in the Camp;
(b)
what measures the police are taking to combat the drug trafficking and drug abuse problems in the Camp; and
(c)
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
whether the chance of those detainees who are addicted to drugs resettling overseas will be affected; if so, what measures the Government will adopt to solve this problem?
It is estimated that about 450, out of the 1,500 registered population of refugees living in Pillar Point Vietnamese Refugee Centre, are addicted to drugs.
(b)
The Police Force take vigorous enforcement action to combat drug trafficking and drug abuse in Pillar Point, in the same way that they take vigorous enforcement action against drug offenders throughout the territory. This action involves, essentially, the collection of criminal intelligence, raids, arrests and the prosecutions. During the last year the Police carried out 44 raids in Pillar Point, and took out 92 prosecutions for drug offences.