XN000022-1995-03-06 — Page 4

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Today's summit was divided into four sessions: addressing the areas of law enforcement, preventive education, treatment and rehabilitation, and research.

The Governor said: "When I suggested the idea of a drugs summit a few months ago, I was determined that this should not be a one-off public relations flourish, achieving a bit of publicity for a day or so, then falling off everyone's agenda.

"So in anticipation of our summit meeting today I asked my officials from all parts of the Government machine involved in the fight against drugs to work together to draw up a Forward Action Plan."

The measures included in the Forward Action Plan include:

* Amending the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance to make it even more difficult for drug traffickers to launder and retain their illicit profits from drug trafficking;

* Amending the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance to increase the maximum penalties for offences of illegal or improper sale of drugs;

* Extending the Superintendent's Discretion Scheme to allow young people arrested for the first time for minor drug offences to be cautioned instead of prosecuted;

Stepping up inspections of pharmacies by the Department of Health;

* Increasing the Police Narcotics Bureau's surveillance activities with 38 additional police officers;

* Extending controls of chemicals that are used in the illicit manufacture of drugs;

* The Attorney General applying to the Court of Appeal for a review of the sentencing guidelines for possession of cannabis for unlawful trafficking;

* Setting up a Drug Education Resource Centre next year to support the implementation of drug education programmes in schools;

* Developing a new General Studies syllabus for primary schools to enhance students' self-esteem;