XN000022-1985-09-30 — Page 11

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1985

DURING 1984, A TOTAL OF 11 206 PERSONS WERE PROSECUTED FOR DANGEROUS DRUGS OFFENCES, A 0.2 PER CENT DECREASE COMPARED WITH 1983. OF THESE PROSECUTIONS, 1 080 PERSONS WERE UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE IN 1984, COMPARED WITH 1 222 IN 1983.

IN 1984, THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED TO CLOSE A LOOPHOLE WHICH EXISTED WITH REGARD TO DRUGS FOUND IN POSSESSION OF TRAFFICKERS WHO CLAIMED THAT THE DRUGS WERE IN TRANSIT AND NOT MEANT FOR SALE IN HONG KONG. FURTHERMORE, A PRESUMPTION CLAUSE WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE ORDINANCE REGARDING THE MANUFACTURE OF ILLICIT DRUGS, TO THE EFFECT THAT THE ACCUSED KNEW THAT WHAT WAS BEING MANUFACTURED WAS A DANGEROUS DRUG.

THE REPORT ALSO POINTED OUT THAT OVER 18 600 ADMISSIONS TO THE VARIOUS TREATMENT PROGRAMMES WERE RECORDED DURING THE YEAR, MUCH MORE THAN FOR ANY OTHER SINGLE YEAR. EACH DAY, THERE WAS ON AVERAGE OVER 14 500 PERSONS RECEIVING SOME FORM OF TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND AFTER-CARE.

IN THE FOREWORD, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACAN, PROFESSOR GERALD CHOA SAID, +WHILST WE FEEL ENCOURAGED BY THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS, WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS THAT OUR EFFORTS CAN BE RELAXED IN ANY WAY.

+WE SHALL MAINTAIN VIGILANCE AND CONTINUE TO ACCORD HIGH PRIORITY TO THE INTERDICTION OF ILLICIT DRUG SUPPLIES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN THIS FIELD.+

IN THE AREA OF PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, 1984 WAS DESCRIBED TO BE A PARTICULARLY COLOURFUL, EVENTFUL AND EXTREMELY BUSY YEAR,

DURING THE YEAR, THE ACAN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LAUNCHED THE STUDENTS AGAINST DRUGS MOVEMENT, ONE OF THE LARGEST ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGNS EVER HELD IN HONG KONG.

DISTRICT CAMPAIGNS WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT CONTINUED IN 1984 TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS TO THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE.

EXTERNALLY, HONG KONG CONTINUED TO GIVE UNSTINTED SUPPORT TO INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE.

DURING 1984, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MADE ITS TENTH ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OF HK$100 000 TO THE UNITED NATIONS FUND FOR DRUG ABUSE CONTROL, MAKING A TOTAL CONTRIBUTION OF HK$1 MILLION SINCE 1975.

THE FUND UNDERTAKES DRUG ABUSE CONTROL ACTIVITIES IN SEVERAL REGIONS IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING OPIUM CROP SUBSTITUTION PROGRAMMES.

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