XN000022-1988-06-02 — Page 15

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1988

14

ACAN CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR GREATER EFFORTS AGAINST NARCOTICS

掌

(ACAN),

BE

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS DR GERALD CHOA, TODAY (THURSDAY) CALLED FOR INTENSIFIED EFFORTS TO MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE IN HONG KONG.

POSITIVE SIGNS

ANOTHER KONG

DR CHOA SAID THAT ALTHOUGH LAST YEAR SAW SOME

WERE INDICATIONS OF IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE, THERE LARGE OPIUM HARVEST IN THE "GOLDEN TRIANGLE" THIS YEAR, AND HONG COULD EXPECT TRAFFICKERS OF HEROIN TO REMAIN ACTIVE.

THE

DR CHOA WAS SPEAKING AT THE DESTRUCTION OF SEIZED DRUGS AT KENNEDY TOWN INCINERATION PLANT. ALTOGETHER, 1,024 KILOGRAMS OF ILLICIT DRUGS WERE BURNT. THEIR VALUE WAS PUT AT ABOUT $662 MILLION.

THE DRUGS, MAINLY HEROIN BASE AND CANNABIS, WERE PART OF SERVICE OVER SEIZURES MADE BY THE POLICE AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND IN PARTICULAR, SEIZURES RESULTING FROM MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO DRUG TRAFFICKING SYNDICATES. THESE ALONE NETTED MORE THAN 1,000 KILOGRAMS OF DANGEROUS DRUGS.

BURNING OF SEIZED DRUGS IS CARRIED OUT REGULARLY SECURITY, AND IN PRIVATE, UPON THE COMPLETION OF TRIALS COURT.

THREE

STRICT UNDER OF CASBS IN

DR CHOA POINTED OUT THAT THE BURNING TODAY, HOWEVER, WAS HELD IN PUBLIC FOR TWO REASONS.

"FIRST, OUR INTENTION IS TO IMPRESS ON OUR COMMUNITY, ONCE THE EVER-PRESENT MORE,

MENACE WHICH DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE PRESENT, ESPECIALLY TO ITS YOUNG MEMBERS, HE SAID.

OUR "OUR SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO DEMONSTRATE OUR THANKS TO, AND

THE CUSTOMS AND CONFIDENCE IN, THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE AND EXCISE SERVICE.

"THESE TWO FINE SERVICES REPRESENT OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE

THE EXPENSE OF

HEALTH AGAINST THOSE WHO SEEK ILLEGAL PROFIT AT THE

DRUGS, BUT OF AND THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY OF THOSE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO

THE THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND OF THOSE IN

YOUNGER AGE GROUPS WHO ARE MOST AT RISK OF BECOMING ADDICTS.

BOTH THE

"BUT, UNDER OUR FREE PORT AND FREE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS, POLICE AND THE CUSTOMS SERVICE LABOUR UNDER TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTIES.

"WE ALL RECOGNISE THE PROBLEMS THEY FACE IN LOOKING FOR DRUGS WHICH ARRIVES HERE EVERY INCOMING

IN THE 47 MILLION TONS OF INCOMING YEAR, THE 21 MILLION INCOMING PASSENGERS SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT.

CARGO

AND

THE

128,000

"YET, AGAINST