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Governor receives report on anti-drugs proposals

The Government is considering the idea of setting up a special fund for financing anti-drugs activities, the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, said today (Thursday).

This was one of the 92 proposals put forward by participants at a summit meeting on drugs held on March 6. It would build on the $30 million 26-point package announced by the Governor at the end of the summit.

All the proposals made at the summit meeting have been studied carefully by a special action group led by the Chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN), Professor C N Chen, and the Commissioner for Narcotics, Mr Alasdair Sinclair.

Professor Chen and Mr Sinclair today presented to the Governor a report on the results of their examination of the proposals.

The Governor welcomed the report which, he said, outlined the sensible and worthwhile nature of many of the proposals and suggested how they might be taken forward.

He pledged to keep a very close watch on progress of the Government's consideration of the recommendations in the report.

Mr Patten noted that the report had suggested that a special drugs fund could be financed by recycling confiscated assets.

"This is not straightforward, not least because of the unpredictable nature of topping up a fund on this basis. But we will look at this idea again, together with other possible ways of financing a special fund; and we will certainly come up with a clear and workable proposal," he said.

"I understand that ACAN will be examining this recommendation at their meeting later this month," he said: "I would very much welcome any further views they may have."

The 92 proposals put forward at the summit meeting comprise 17 on law enforcement, 44 on preventive education, 18 on treatment and rehabilitation, and 13 on research.