XN000022-1982-07-14 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1982

MOVE TO STOP DRUG SMUGGLING ON SHIPS

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AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON MARIA TAM, WARNED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW AND LAPSED DRUG ADDICTS IF ACTION IS NOT TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AGAINST THE SMUGGLING OF DANGEROUS DRUGS INTO HONG KONG.

SHE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL DURING ITS RESUMED DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE BILL SEEKS TO DETER TRAFFICKERS IN DANGEROUS DRUGS FROM USING SHIPS TO CARRY OUT THEIR NEFARIOUS TRADE AND TO IMPOSE FINANCIAL PENALTIES ON THE OWNER OF THE SHIP WHICH IS FOUND TO HAVE CARRIED EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS.

CITING STATISTICS, MISS TAM POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A STEADY DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW DRUG ADDICTS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1976 AND DECEMBER 1979.

BUT THE NUMBER INCREASED FROM 38 700 TO OVER 42 000 IN 1981 AS A RESULT OF A GOOD HARVEST OF POPPIES IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AND AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF HEROIN BEING SMUGGLED INTO HONG KONG.

THE DROP IN THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF NO.3 HEROIN BY 60 PER CENT LAST YEAR ALSO CAUSED MANY OF THOSE ON METHADONE TREATMENT TO TAKE HEROIN AGAIN, SHE SAID.

MISS TAM SUGGESTED THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO HIT AT DRUG TRAFFICKING WAS BY DETECTION AND SEIZURE BOTH AT THE POINT OF ENTRY TO HONG KONG AND DURING ITS MANUFACTURE HERE.

+THE FIND, OR QUANTITY SEIZED, AT THIS STAGE IS USUALLY LARGE AND IT IS PREVENTED FROM REACHING THE HANDS OF THE ADDICTS IN THE REAR LANES, RED LIGHT DISTRICTS AND HOUSING ESTATES OF THE URBAN AREA, AND THE OLD ABANDONED VILLAGE HUTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE PREVENTION IS FAR BETTER THAN CURE AND WHILE IT IS NOW EASY TO MEDICALLY CURE A MAN OF DRUG ADDICTION, WE CAN NEVER BE CERTAIN OF HIS SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION.

+MANY OF THEM GO THROUGH CYCLES OF METHADONE TREATMENTS AND PERIODS OF PROBATION AND SUPERVISION BY SOCIAL WORKERS, ONLY TO LAPSE INTO TAKING HEROIN WHENEVER THEY CAN AFFORD IT AND OBTAIN IT IN THE STREETS, SHE SAID.

EARLIER, THE HON PETER C. WONG, CONVENOR OF THE LEGISLATION SCRUTINY GROUP WHICH STUDIED THE BILL, SAID HIS GROUP AGREED THAT THE PROBLEMS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING IN HONG KONG MERITED FIRM AND SWIFT ACTION INVOLVING A DEGREE OF RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT.

/BUT THEY