XN000022-1975-01-03 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1975

TOUGH MEASURES TO CURB HEROIN MANUFACTURING IN H.K.

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NEW LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO CONTROL THE USE OF CERTAIN CHEMICALS, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MANUFACTURING HEROIN, WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THE ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES (CONTROL) BILL 1975 -- WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE FOR INFORMATION.

THE CHEMICALS CONCERNED ARE ACETIC ANHYDRIDE, ACETYL BROMIDE, AND ACETYL CHLORIDE.

AT PRESENT, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO IMPORT ACETIC ANHYDRIDE WITHOUT A LICENCE. HOWEVER, ONCE THE CHEMICAL HAS BEEN IMPORTED, IT IS NOT AN OFFENCE TO POSSESS IT. NEITHER IS IT AN OFFENCE TO MANUFACTURE IT NOR DEAL IN IT. THE IMPORT OF THE OTHER TWO CHEMICALS IS NOT RESTRICTED.

IF ENACTED, THE NEW LEGISLATION WILL MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO IMPORT AND EXPORT, DEAL, MANUFACTURE, TRANS-SHIP AND POSSESS, EXCEPT IN DIRECT TRANSIT, THE CHEMICALS WITHOUT A LICENCE OR PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

ON CONVICTION, AN OFFENDER MAY BE FINED UP TO $1 MILLION AND IMPRISONED FOR 15 YEARS ON INDICTMENT WHILE ON SUMMARY CONVICTION HE MAY BE FINED UP TO $500,000 AND SENT TO PRISON FOR THREE YEARS.

UNDER NEW REGULATIONS WHICH WILL BE MADE AFTER THE BILL HAS BEEN ENACTED, HOLDERS OF A LICENCE OR PERMIT ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP RECORDS OF THEIR STOCK OF CHEMICALS AND TO STORE THEM SECURELY IN APPROVED PLACES.

COMMENTING ON THE NEW LEGISLATION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: THE THREE CHEMICALS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL AS AN ACETYLATING AGENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEROIN, ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR INDUSTRIAL USE IN HONG KONG AND NONE OF THEM IS MADE LOCALLY BY NORMAL INDUSTRIAL PROCESS.

+LOCAL ILLICIT REQUIREMENTS ARE SMUGGLED INTO HONG KONG FROM OVERSEAS OR ARE DIVERTED FROM TRANS-SHIPMENT CARGOES STORED IN HONG KONG.

+ACETIC ANHYDRIDE IS THE CHEMICAL INVARIABLY USED IN THE HEROIN MANUFACTURING PROCESS AS IT IS EASIER TO HANDLE. NEVERTHELESS, THE DANGER OF VIOLENT EXPLOSION FROM HEROIN MANUFACTURE IS HIGH.+

THE SPOKESMAN WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD STRIKE A SUBSTANTIAL BLOW AT HEROIN MANUFACTURERS IN HONG KONG AND WOULD HELP THE POLICE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICE IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST CLANDESTINE HEROIN MANUFACTURING.

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