XN000022-1987-12-15 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1987

NUMBER OF NEWLY REPORTED DRUG ABUSERS DECREASES

REPORTED TO 1983 CONTINUED IN

THE DOWNWARD TREND IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS NEWLY THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSERS (CRDA) SINCE THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1987.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTER OF THE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), DR GERALD CHOA, AT THE 66TH MEETING ACAN TODAY (TUESDAY).

ON THE OTHER HAND, DR CHOA SAID THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT MORE CANNABIS WAS COMING INTO HONG KONG.

"HENCE PUBLICITY IS BEING STEPPED UP TO WARN OF THE DANGERS THIS DRUG,' HE SAID.

..

DR CHOA ALSO STRESSED

THE IMPORTANT

ROLE

THAT

OF

PARENTS AND

TEACHERS HAD TO PLAY IN KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE FROM DRUGS.

ON THE REPORTING

DRUG

THE SITUATION, NARCOTICS, MR GARETH MULLOY, SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF AGES NEWLY REPORTED DECREASED BY 8.7 PER CENT, FROM AS COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1986.

FOR COMMISSIONER

PERSONS OF ALL

ΤΟ 2,092

1,911,

THE NUMBER OF NEWLY REPORTED YOUNG PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF DURING THIS PERIOD WAS 596; THE SAME AS THAT FOR LAST YEAR.

21

ALL DRUG OFFENCES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR

WHILE PROSECUTIONS OF DROPPED BY 9.3 PER CENT FROM 9,429 TO 8,548,

FALL OF YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO DECREASED FROM 797 TO 602, REPRESENTING A 24.5 PER CENT.

DRUG "NEVERTHELESS, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR MAJOR

4,320," MR OFFENCES HAS SLIGHTLY RISEN BY 3.2 PER CENT FROM 4,188 TO MULLOY ADDED.

DURING THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF OFFICERS SEIZED A TOTAL OF 394 KILOGRAMS OF NO. 3 HEROIN.

POLICE 1987,

AND CUSTOMS ILLICIT OPIATES, MAINLY

IN

ADDITION, THE

COMMISSIONER

NOTED

CANNABIS SEIZED DURING THIS PERIOD TOTALLED 331 SIX TIMES THE QUANTITY (53 KILOGRAMS) FOUND IN

HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF MANDRAX

THREE QUARTERS OF

THAT

THE AMOUNT OF KILOGRAMS. THIS WAS

1986.

TABLETS SEIZED IN THE FIRST TO 40,679 TABLETS,

1987 DECREASED CONSIDERABLY COMPARED WITH A TOTAL OF 273,745 TABLETS LAST YEAR.

"THIS MAY BE AN INDICATOR THAT

MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION EFFECT, MR MULLOY REMARKED.

**

OF

NEW CHINA'S METHAQUALONE

CONTROLS ON THE TAKING

(MANDRAX) ARE

/MR MULLOY .....................