XN000022-1979-01-26 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1979

HONG KONG NARCOTICS REPORT GOES ON SALE

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A COMPREHENSIVE AND AUTHORITATIVE DOCUMENT ON HONG KONG'S NARCOTICS PROBLEM AND THE EFFORT BEING MADE TO TACKLE IT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE.

THE DOCUMENT, COMPILED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), IS ENTITLED HONG KONG NARCOTICS REPORT 1977.

THE REPORT IS PUT ON SALE BECAUSE ENQUIRIES WERE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WISHED TO OBTAIN A COPY WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED LATE LAST YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE REPORT IS PUBLISHED IN FULL-COLOUR COVER AND WITH FULL COLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS. THE REPORT COMES IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE LANGUAGES SEPARATELY.

THE 112-PAGE PUBLICATION GIVES A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGING CHARACTERISTICS OF HONG KONG'S NARCOTICS SCENE AS WELL AS ALL MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE VARIOUS MAJOR ACTION PROGRAMMES BEING CARRIED OUT.

FIVE CHAPTERS ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, DEVOTED TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE +BATTLE OF WITS+ BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS, DETAILING THE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE, AND THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS IN REDUCING THE SUPPLY OF HEROIN, OPIUM AND OTHER ILLICIT DRUGS IN HONG KONG.

THE SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG'S TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR DRUG ADDICTS ARE ALSO GIVEN IN THE REPORT, COMPLETE WITH STATISTICS TO SHOW THE TRENDS OF DRUG ABUSE IN RECENT YEARS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR ACAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE REPORT IS AN INFORMATIVE AND HIGHLY READABLE DOCUMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE LONG-STANDING, SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEM OF NARCOTIC ADDICTION IN HONG KONG.

IT IS PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDED TO TEACHERS, STUDENTS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND PEOPLE OF OTHER PROFESSIONS WHOSE WORK MAY BE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NARCOTIC ISSUE, HE SAID.

THE REPORT COSTS $9.50 EACH, THE ENGLISH EDITION IS NOW ALREADY ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING AND THE CHINESE EDITION WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

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