XN000022-1995-07-13 — Page 3

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The second point I want to make concerns an idea which has been advanced I know by a number of Legislators and was advanced at the summit to which I referred. That is the proposal that we should establish a fund for combating drug abuse and that we should put into it the money, the proceeds of drug trafficking which are confiscated in successful convictions. I think there are some arguments against that proposition which have been put from time to time. Particularly, of course, the uncertainty of that source as a main source of funding. But the proposal that we should establish a special fund for tackling drug abuse is one that we're taking very seriously in the Administration and we intend to put some proposals to this Council and to the community in the Autumn. But, I repeat, we'll continue to report on the implementation of both our action programme and on our reaction to the large number of proposals which were put to us during the summit itself.

Mr Allen Lee (through interpreter): A quick follow-up. Mr President, in the housing estates now I observe that many youngsters blatantly take drugs and they inject drugs into the body so syringes are scattered here and there. I asked the residents what action should be taken against the problem. I was told that during the evening time not a lot of policemen can be observed touring or inspecting the area. The residents are, of course, fearful of the youngsters. They would rather turn a blind eye to the youngsters but the problem is getting more and more serious. So action, concrete action must be taken. The residents feel that a police presence is not enough and the residents themselves are fearful of the youngsters but then police coverage is not good enough and in fact we have such phenomena in the housing estates the Government must address the issue. The residents are of the view that police manpower is not adequate and therefore the youngsters are blatantly committing the offences. So is that the real picture?

Governor: The police were of course involved in the summit in March, and they've been involved in all our discussions on implementing our action programme. They recognise the importance of working with the community, with the Fight Crime Committees and with schools and colleges in combating drug abuse and I can assure the Honourable Member that they give this considerable priority. They have indeed over the last year enjoyed some remarkable successes in the seizure of drugs but I think we all recognise the importance, as the Honourable Member mentioned, of adequate police presence on the streets and in the estates. I've witnessed some of the consequences of the phenomenon to which the Honourable Member refers on visits to some housing estates. The stairwells which are used for the exchange of drugs, the places on the windows where drugs and money are left and are exchanged. The syringes which are found in the morning when other children are going to school. Those are all signs of the drug abuse which we wish to fight vigorously and of course an active police presence, as well as better measures to educate young people about the dangers of drugs are an essential part of a successful programme.