TNAG-0505-FCO40-570-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 140

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VEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1974

MR. DAVIES ALSO OUTLINED ACTIONS TAKEN BY VARIOUS QUARTERS BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF HONG KONG IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE.

POINTING OUT THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND EDUCATION ABOUT DRUG ABUSE IS A CONTINUING PROCESS UHICH AFFECTS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, HE SAID THE PRIME CONCERN MUST CE TO PROTECT THE YOUNG.

+IT IS ENCOURAGING · THAT THERE IS INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO ENSURE, WITHOUT EXCITING TOO MUCH CRIOSITY, THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY, ARE INFORMED OF THE DAIKENO OF DOUG ABUSE.+

THE ACAN HAS A SUB-COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY WHİCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING TUS VAINOUS TRORRAINES. SIMILAR EFFORTS ARE ALSO UNDERTAKEN BY THE DOUGATION DEPARTMENT, THE NARCOTICS BUREAU OF THE POLICE, THE PRISONS DEPARTIENT AND SARDA.

ON THE GOVERNMENT'S REVERTING TO PUBLIC BURNING OF DRUGS AS SUGGESTED BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, HE SAID THIS WOULD CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERED. +WE PERFORMED THESE RITES I 1957 AND 1969 AND ACAN WILL DECIDE WHETHER FURTHER CEREMONIES WILL HAVE A BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON PUBLIC OPINION.+

TOUCHING ON HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF THE VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR NARCOTICS CONTROL, HE SAID 1973 SAU A CREAT INCREASE IN ANTI-NARCOTICS ACTION IN BURMA AND THAILAND WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE RESULTED IN A SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS NZORTED INTO HONG KONG.

HE STRESSED THAT INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION HAD HELPED CONSIDERABLY TO REDUCE IMPORTS OF OPIUM TO HONG KONG, AND, TO THIS END, THE MARCOTICS DUREAU AND THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE MAINTAINED THE CLOSEST LIAISON WITH OVERSEAS AUTORITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRODUCING COUNTRIES.

+WE ARE ALSO ALIVE TO OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES TO STAMP OUT ANY POSSIBLE USE OF HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR HEROI IMPORTS.+

HE ADDED THAT TWO EXPERIENCED NARCOTICS CUREAU OFFICERS HAD, ON THE DAY DEFORE THE PRESENT DEBATE BEGAN, LEFT FOR EUROPE TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF ARRESTS OF CHINESE IN POSSESSION OF HEROIN ALLEGEDLY PROCURED IN HONG KONG, AND TO ESTABLISH CLOSER CONTACT WITH ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THERE.

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