XN000022-1988-05-18 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988

"THIS DRAMATIC REDUCTION RESULTED FROM THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE AUTHORITIES IN CHINA, AT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S REQUEST, TO STOP THE MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE DRUG, HE SAID.

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"ACTION AGAINST THE TRAFFICKING OF MANDRAX TABLETS BY YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 21 HAS RESULTED IN 27 PROSECUTIONS IN 1986 AND 40 IN 1987."

HOWEVER, MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF PROSECUTIONS FOR MANDRAX TRAFFICKING WERE TAKEN AGAINST PERSONS OVER 21, FOR WHICH THERE WERE 98 PROSECUTIONS IN 1986 AND 127 IN 1987.

"SUCH CASES USUALLY ARISE FROM POLICE AND CUSTOMS RAIDS ON VICE ESTABLISHMENTS AND FROM INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE INVESTIGATING AGENCIES," HE SAID,

"EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS TO CURB TRAFFICKING ARE ALSO MADE BY MEANS OF POSTERS, API'S (ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST), SCHOOL TALKS AND TEACHING KITS TO WHICH I HAVE REFERRED.

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MR BARNES NOTED THAT HE HAD USED THE TERM "PSYCHOTROPIC", RATHER THAN "SOFT", BECAUSE THE TERM "SOFT

DRUG", ALTHOUGH COMMONLY USED, COULD BE MISLEADING.

"IT SUGGESTS THAT THESE DRUGS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY HARMFUL COMPARED WITH THE MORE DANGEROUS ADDICTIVE DRUGS SUCH AS HEROIN, AND COULD LULL PEOPLE INTO FALSELY UNDERESTIMATING THE POTENTIAL HARM OF SUCH DRUGS. THIS COULD PROVE A GRAVE ERROR, HE EXPLAINED.

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HOSPITAL SUFFICIENTLY WELL EQUIPPED * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES CONSIDERS THAT THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL IS SUFFICIENTLY WELL EQUIPPED AT PRESENT TO FULFIL EFFICIENTLY ITS FUNCTION AS AN EMERGENCY CARDIAC REFERRAL CENTRE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, SAID, "THERE ARE NO SPECIAL ITEMS OF CARDIAC EQUIPMENT IN HOSPITALS WHICH ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN GRANTHAM HOSPITAL.

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MR CHAMBERS GOVERNMENT

AS TO EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS HE SAID THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID NOT KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF SUCH EQUIPMENT.

"IN ANY CASE, THE DECISION TO ACQUIRE A PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT MUST BE A MATTER OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT IN RELATION TO THE SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HOSPITAL IN QUESTION AND STRAIGHT-FORWARD COMPARISON MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE, HE NOTED.

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