TNAG-0417-FCO40-463-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 96

HONG KONG STANDARD

SEPT 1415

73

HKRI9/3

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Hongkong not seeking WHO aid on drugs

THE

World Organisation is

Health offering

member

assistance to Asian countries in a renewal effort to curb the rising usage of drugs, but it is unlikely that Hongkong will ask for it.

But government officials said yesterday the Colony would follow with interest a current Asian project to measure the size of the problem in Malaysia and the Philippines

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Two consultants are expected to arrive in these two countries this month to carry out a two-month long survey to find out what drugs are being used and how addiction starts.

Speaking on the project, the Director of Medical and Health Department, Dr Gerald Choa, told the Standard yesterday that some money had been obtained from various sources for the project.

"These consultants will stay in the two countries for at least two months, if I remember correctly. They are to study what sort of drugs people take, how drugs get there, what sort of people fake them and what effects the drugs have.

"They will then draw up a general report for the Pacific Regional Director," he said.

The agreement was made at the Pacific Regional Conference of the world body which ended i in Wellington last week. Dr Choa attended for Hongkong.

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He said that assistance would be offered to any member state for any problem if they need it. Before that is possible it is necessary to study the problem in depth first.

"There's no point in saying I've got people taking drugs and we want help. You've got to get i these answers to know the size of the problem first." Dr Choa said.

He said the scheme followed a worldwide WHO effon, "Drug is a worldwide problem and each region and each regional director has been asked to do more research into the problem,” he said.

Asked whether Hongkong would be involved. he said: "Frankly I don't think that I would have to ask for WHO help because the Government is very sympathetic 10 this scheme (methadone treatment) that I'm running.

"We do it in a slightly different way from the other countries."

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