XN000022-1995-07-12 — Page 79

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Request for info from IRD on drug trafficking suspects

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Following is a question by the Hon Eric Li Ka-cheung and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Security, Mr Kenneth Woodhouse, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Under section 20 of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance, an authorised officer may, for the purpose of an investigation into drug trafficking, apply to the court for an order to require the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to provide information on persons suspected of having benefited from drug trafficking. Will the Government inform this Council of the numbers of applications made to the court for the issue of court orders requiring IRD to provide information on persons suspected of drug trafficking and persons suspected of having benefited from drug trafficking respectively, as well as the number of prosecutions instituted on the basis of such information, in the last two years?

Reply:

Mr President,

During the two-year period from 1 July 1993 to 30 June 1995, the Police and the Customs made 107 applications to the court to obtain information from the Inland Revenue Department. It is impossible to break down this number into applications for court orders requiring the Department to provide information concerning persons suspected of drug trafficking on the one hand, and persons suspected of having benefited from drug trafficking on the other, because many of the applications were made for both purposes.

One prosecution for a money laundering offence was instituted during the same period with the assistance of information provided by the Inland Revenue Department. In addition, 11 successful confiscation applications were made as a result of this information.

End/Wednesday, July 12, 1995