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Drug trafficking is an international problem and co-operation among governments in confiscating the proceeds of drug trafficking acts as a major deterrent. Hong Kong has already concluded agreements and arrangements with eleven other jurisdictions, which have all been designated under the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance. As a result of such bilateral co-operation, about $208 million worth of assets related to drug trafficking have been seized in Hong Kong.
We have recently initialled a similar agreement with the Kingdom of Thailand, concerning mutual assistance in the suppression of drug trafficking. The agreement will come into effect when it is signed by both Governments after they have notified each other that all the requirements for its entry into force have been completed. One of these requirements for Hong Kong is the designation of the Kingdom of Thailand under the Ordinance.
This resolution seeks this Council's approval of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) (Designated Countries and Territories) (Amendment) Order 1996, made by the Governor in Council on 4 June 1996. The Amendment Order will add the Kingdom of Thailand to the list of designated territories, and so apply the provisions of the Ordinance to confiscation orders made by the courts in Thailand. Confiscation orders made by the Hong Kong courts will similarly be enforceable in Thailand on a reciprocal basis.
Mr President, I beg to move.
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Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Regulation
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in moving the amendments to the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Regulation 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move the motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. The Dangerous Drugs Regulations set out, inter alias, record-keeping requirements to be adhered to by an authorised person when supplying a dangerous drug. This is to ensure that full particulars of the acquisition and supply of dangerous drugs are recorded for monitoring purpose. As part of the Administration's efforts to tackle the problem of illicit sale of dangerous drugs, we have proposed to tighten the record-keeping requirements through the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Regulation 1996 which was tabled in this Council on 22 May 1996. One of the tightening measures proposed is to require the entering of the identity card number of the patient to whom dangerous drugs are supplied.