XN000022-1982-09-10 — Page 9

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1982

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GOVERNMENT TO BURN $50 MILLION WORTH OF SEIZED NARCOTIC DRUGS

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ABOUT $50 MILLION WORTH OF NARCOTIC DRUGS SEIZED BY THE POLICE AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WILL BE DESTROYED AT THE KENNEDY TOWN INCINERATOR NEXT MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 13).

THE DRUGS, TOTALLING 156 KG, INCLUDE NO. 3 HEROIN AND HEROIN BASE, RAW AND PREPARED OPIUM, AND MORPHINE. IN ADDITION, ABOUT 16 LITRES OF ACETIC ANHYDRIDE AND SOME 1 000 SMOKING AND INJECTION EQUIPMENT WILL BE DESTROYED.

AT THE SAME TIME, SOME 80 000 CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS OF THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSERS (CRDA) OBTAINED FROM APRIL 1972 TO AUGUST 1976 WILL BE DESTROYED. THE RECORDS WERE RETURNED BY REPORTING AGENCIES.

IN 1981, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PASSED INTO LAW A BILL TO PROVIDE STATUTORY PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDS REGARDING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS ON DRUG ABUSERS KEPT BY THE CRDA AND ITS REPORTING AGENCIES. SUCH PROTECTION IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED CONFIDENCE OF THE REPORTING SOURCES AND AGENCIES, AND OF THE ADDICTS THEMSELVES, IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE CENTRAL REGISTRY.

SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), WILL DELIVER A SPEECH ON THE OCCASION.

OTHER GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE HON MARIA TAM, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF ACAN; SISTER AQUINAS, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS; DR K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES; MR PETER MOOR, ACTING COMMISSIONER OF POLICE; MR DOUGLAS JORDAN, COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE; AND MR PETER LEE, COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

TWO

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT AT THE KENNEDY TOWN INCINERATOR NEXT MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 13) AT 12.30 PM. GOVERNMENT VANS FOR THE PRESS WILL LEAVE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES CAR PARK, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, AT 11.20 AM SHARP. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE INCINERATOR NOT LATER THAN 12 NOON.

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