XN000022-1984-07-24 — Page 19

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1984

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LAW GIVES SUFFICIENT DETERRENT TO USE OF SOFT+ DRUGS

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THERE ARE SUFFICIENT DETERRENT EFFECTS IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATION REGARDING THE USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC OR +SOFT+ DRUGS IN HONG KONG, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GORDON MORTIMER, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG,

MR MORTIMER SAID, TO CURB THE INCIDENCE OF ABUSE OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS, A WORK ING PARTY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983 TO LOOK INTO THE CONTROL OF PSYCHOTROPIC AND NON-OPIATE NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES.+

AN INTERIM REPORT OF THE WORK ING PARTY, HE SAID, WAS SUBMITTED TO THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS FOR CONSIDERATION IN MID-AUGUST.

CONTRAVENTION OF THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE, WHICH STRICTLY CONTROLS LOCAL USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS, IS PUNISHABLE PY A FINE OF $10 000 AND 12 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT, HE SAID.

+WHERE THERE IS EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD ABUSE OF A SUBSTANCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES OR WHEN THE ABUSE OF A SUBSTANCE IN HONG KONG APPEARS TO BE INCREASING, THE SUBSTANCES CONCERNED ARE LISTED IN PART OF THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE DANGEROJS DPUGS ORDINANCE.

+ THE MOST STRINGENT CONTROLS ARE APPLIED AND OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE CARRY SEVERE PENALTIES EXTENDING TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT, M MORTIMER SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT AMONG THE 11 301 PERSONS REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE IN 1983 AS ACTUALLY ABUSING DRUGS, ONLY 0.4 PER CENT OR 45 PERSONS WERE REPORTED AS ABUSING PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS, MAINLY CANNABIS.

OF THESE 45 PERSONS, 22 WERE UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE.

IN 1983, A TOTAL OF 73 PERSONS UNDER 21 WERE PROSECUTED FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF PSYCHOTROP IC DRUGS.

IMPRISONMENT,

PENALTIES IMPOSED BY THE COURT FOR SUCH OFFENCES RANGE FROM A FINE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO SEVERAL MONTHS' HE SAID.

FIGURES FOR 1981 AND 1982 WERE NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE A BREAKDOWN BY AGE WAS NOT MADE UNTIL 1983, HE ADDED.

TO COMBAT THE ILLEGAL USE OF +SOFT+ DRUGS BY YOUNGSTERS, STAFF OF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION GIVE TALKS TO JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 15 ON THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE.

THE HELP OF PARENTS, TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN STEERING YOUNG PEOPLE AWAY FROM DRUGS WAS ALSO BEING SOUGHT, HE ADDED.

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