XN000022-1973-11-27 — Page 2

Tuesday, November 27, 1973

NEW GOVERNMENT MACHINERY TO CURB DRUG PROBLEM

Streamlined ACAN takes on advisory role next January 1

A streamlined Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN)

on January 1 will become the government's sole channel of advice on

all policy matters relating to the drive against drug abuse and drug

trafficking.

Announcing this today, the Commissioner for Narcotics, Mr.

N. G. Rolph, said that the move was part of the intensified anti-drug

measures outlined by the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, in his

annual review of Hong Kong affairs in the Legislative Council last

October 17,

Mr. Rolph said that for its new advisory role, membership of

ACAN would be cut from 20 to 12.

He said the 12-member committee would be made up of seven

senior government officials and five community leaders.

The seven officials are: The Secretary for Security; the

Director of Medical and Health Services; the Director of Commerce and

Industry, in his capacity as Commissioner of the Freventive Service; the

Commissioner of Police; the Director of Social Welfare; the Commissioner

of Frisons; and the Commissioner for Narcotics.

The five community leaders are: The senior Unofficial

Member of the Executive Council, Sir Albert Rodrigues (chairman);

an Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council, Mrs. C. J. Symons; and

three individuals specially appointed by the Governor the Director of

the Lutheran World Federation, the Rev. K. L. Stumpf; the secretary of

mg

/the Society