XN000022-1975-09-01 — Page 6

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1975

TOUGH NEW PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL DEALERS

IN ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES USED IN HEROIN PRODUCTION

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THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAS SECURED POWERS WHICH WILL ENABLE IT TO EXERCISE STRICTER CONTROL OVER THE IMPORT, EXPORT AND MOVEMENT IN HONG KONG OF ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEROIN.

STARTING FROM TODAY (MONDAY) PEOPLE WHO IMPORT, EXPORT, PROCURE, SUPPLY, DEAL IN OR WITH, MANUFACTURE OR POSSESS ILLEGALLY THESE CHEMICALS MAY BE FINED UP TO $1,000,000 AND JAILED FOR 15 YEARS.

PREVIOUSLY ONLY ACETIC ANHYDRIDE WAS CONTROLLED UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (GENERAL) REGULATIONS AND THE PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION OF THIS LEGISLATION WAS $50,000 AND ONE YEAR IMPRISONMENT.

NOW, UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION DRAWN UP SPECIFICALLY FOR ALL ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES, TWO MORE CHEMICALS - ACETIC CHLORIDE AND ACETIC BROMIDE - HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST.

THE LEGISLATION IS ANOTHER STEP IN THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO STAMP OUT THE ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TRADE.

THE NEW CONTROL AND MONITORING SYSTEM, BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, INVOLVES EVERY ASPECT OF THE TRADE IN ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES, STARTING FROM THEIR IMPENDING IMPORT TO THE TIME THE CHEMICALS COME ASHORE AND TO HOW THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED AND USED BY COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN HONG KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SYSTEM WILL, HOWEVER, BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW AN UNINTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF THE CHEMICALS TO BONA FIDE USERS LIKE HOSPITALS, CHEMICAL LABORATORIES AND SO ON.

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