XN000022-1986-08-11 — Page 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 1986

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DRUG PROBLEM BEING TACKLED WITH DETERMINATION

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DRUG ADDICTION IS STILL A SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEM IN HONG KONG AND IS ONE WHICH IS BEING TACKLED WITH DETERMINATION AND

RESOLUTION, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, PROFESSOR GERALD CHOA, TOLD A GROUP OF DRUG FIGHTERS FROM THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION TODAY (MONDAY).

OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES HONG KONG HAD MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IN ATTACKING THE TWIN PROBLEMS OF DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING, PROF CHOA SAID.

+NEVERTHELESS. WE ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF COMPLACENCY, OF THE CHAMELEON CHARACTER OF DRUG ABUSE AND OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT VIGILANCE.+

PROF CHOA WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG PROGRAMME OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON THE DRUG PROBLEM IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION.

THE SEMINAR IS ORGANISED BY THE UNITED NATIONS ASIA AND FAR EAST INSTITUTE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS (UNAFEI), AND 28 NARCOTICS EXPERTS FROM 17 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES ARE TAKING PART.

THE TWO-DAY HONG KONG PROGRAMME, CO-ORGANISED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FORMS PART OF THE 20-DAY SEMINAR SPREAD OVER THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION.

PROF CHOA SAID THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE PROVIDED ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON THE DRUG SITUATION AND SERVED AS A RELIABLE BASIS FOR THE FORMULATION OF POLICIES AND FOR THE EVALUATION OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES.

+ THE SIZE OF OUR KNOWN ACTIVE ADDICT POPULATION IS ABOUT 37 000, REPRESENTING 0.8 PER CENT OF OUR TOTAL POPULATION AGED 11 AND ABOVE,+ HE SAID.

+ IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE SORT OF MEDICAL, SOCIAL, LEGAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY THIS NUMBER AND OUR DRUG DEPENDANTS.+

HE ADDED THAT HONG KONG WAS ADOPTING A MULTI-DISCIPLINED APPROACH IN ATTACKING THE PROBLEM FROM BOTH THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND REDUCTION ASPECTS.

PROF CHOA ALSO HOPED THAT PARTICIPANTS IN THE SEMINAR WOULD PROMOTE REGIONAL UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION REGARDING PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES IN ERADICATING DRUG ABUSE.

IN HIS