XN000022-1976-04-12 — Page 9

Monday, April 12, 1976

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DRUG ABUSE DATA EXPERT TO VISIT HONG KONG

An expert in drug abuse data processing from New York will arrive

in Hong Kong tomorrow (Tuesday) to assist the Government in improving its

system of drug abuse data collection and processing.

The expert, Mr. B. Werbell, who is Swedish, is employed by the

New York City Council as the project manager of their Health Data Processing

Department. One of his main responsibilities is the management of the

New York City Register of Drug Addicts, which is the largest in the United

States outside Washington where a federal register is maintained.

In Hong Kong, Mr. Werbell will examine the data on drug addicts

currently produced by all Government departments and voluntary agencies

engaged in anti-narcotics work, and the system by which it is collected and

processed, In particular, he will study the operation of the Central

Registry of Drug Addicts, which was established four years ago.

At the conclusion of his study, Mr. Werbell will make a report to

the Secretary for Security on how the local addict population and its

characteristics can be more accurately determined, and on the ways of

monitoring the effectiveness of Hong Kong's treatment and rehabilitation

programmes.

Commenting on Mr. Werbell's consultancy, a Government spokesman

said this was another important step in Government's on-going effort to

fight drug abuse.

"Accurate statistical information about the number and the

characteristics of the local addict population will be invaluable in the

planning of all action programmes against narcotics," he said.

/Mr. Werbell's