XN000022-1974-06-19 — Page 7

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COMPULSORY REGISTRATION

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1974

THE HON. WILSON WANG, IN SUPPORTING THE MOTION, OUTLINED HIS OWN MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

DRUG ADDICTS, HE SUGGESTED, SHOULD BE COMPELLED BY LAW TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AT THE CENTRAL REGISTRY WITHIN THREE MONTHS AND BE LAIBLE TO STRICT PUNISHMENT IF THEY FAILED TO DO SO.

HOWEVER, THOSE ADDICTS WHO WERE REGISTERED WOULD HAVE PRIORITY FOR TREATMENT AND BE GIVEN A REMISSION OF THEIR PENALTY. UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, DRUG ADDICTS ARE LIABLE TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $10,000.

MR. WANG SAID: +IT WOULD ENCOURAGE ADDICTS TO REGISTER WITHOUT DELAY IF THIS ORDINANCE WERE AMENDED TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PENALTY FOR REGISTERED DRUG ADDICTS COULD BE REMITTED WHILE THOSE WHO DO NOT COULD HAVE THE PENALTY INCREASED.+

ASIDE FROM THEIR PERSONAL PARTICULARS, ADDICTS

REGISTERING WOULD HAVE TO STATE WHETHER THEY WOULD SEEK TREATMENT ON THEIR OWN OR WOULD PREFER TO WAIT THEIR TURN FOR TREATMENT BY THE AUTHORITIES, AND WHETHER THEY WOULD BE WILLING ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE TO HAVE THEIR CONDUCT OBSERVED BY AUTHORISED RELATIVES OR FRIENDS, OR BY OBSERVERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

MR. WANG ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PREPARE A PRIORITY LIST OF PERSONS FOR TREATMENT ON THE BASIS ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CENTRAL REGISTER AND OF REPORTS BY OBSERVERS,

+THIS WOULD ACHIEVE THE RESULT TWICE AS QUICKLY WITH ONLY HALF THE EFFORT, HE SAID, POINTING OUT THAT IN VIEW OF THE EXISTING LIMITED TREATMENT FACILITIES HONG KONG COULD NOT EXPECT TO CATER FOR 100,000 ADDICTS WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD EVEN IF THE FACILITIES WERE GREATLY INCREASED.

TURNING TO THE NEED TO WIN THE CO-OPERATION OF CITIZENS, MR. WANG SUGGESTED A STEPPING UP IN PUBLICITY TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS, SCHOOL HEADS, AND THOSE IN CHARGE OF FACTORIES AND ORGANISATIONS TO REMIND CHILDREN OF THE EVILS OF DRUGS AND TO REPORT SUSPECTED ADDICTS, TRAFFICKERS AND DRUG MANUFACTURERS.

HE ALSO STRESSED THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THOSE REPORTING TRAFFICKERS, AND CALLED FOR STRONGER POWER FOR THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND THE POLICE NARCOTICS BUREAU TO TACKLE THE +EXCELLENT ORGANISATIONS+ OF TRAFFICKERS.

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