TNAG-0505-FCO40-570-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 176

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1974

RECEIVED IN

TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS ON THE WAY REGISTRY No. 51

UNOFFICIALS CONCERNED OVER DRUG ABUSE RXRX X X

24 JUN1974

1JXX 19/2

UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY CALLED FOR A NEW INITIATIVE TO COMBAT THE SCOURGE OF NARCOTICS WITH THE COVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AT ALL LEVELS FORMING A UNITED FRONT ACAINST DRUG TRAFFICKERS.

THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT A STRENGTHENED POLICING FORCE AND TOUGHER DETERRENT SENTENCES, COUPLED WITH A FULLSCALE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND THE PUBLIC ON THE EVILS OF DANGEROUS DRUGS, WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS BREAKING THE BACK OF THE PRODLEN.

AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS PUT IT: +AN ALL-OUT WAR MUST NOW BE DECLARED BY THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE TRAFFICKERS IN THE ILLICIT DRUG TRADE.+

THE SUGGESTIONS WERE PUT FORWARD DURING A DEBATE ON A MOTION TO WELCOME THE WHITE PAPER ON THE PROCLEH OF DANGEROUS DRUGS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE HON. LEVIS DAVIES, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, ANNOUNCED THAT DRAFT LEGISLATION WAS ALREADY IN HAND TO INCREASE THE FINES WHICH MAY BE TIPOSED BY THE COURTS ON OFFERDERS, AND A BILL WOULD BE PUT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

ACTIVE FLANNING WAS ALSO UNDERWAY, HE SAID, TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW AID BY WHEN TREATMENT SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN THE MOST ECONOMIC MANNER AND IN A WAY WHICH IS MOST LIKELY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. THIS WOULD BE THE PRIME TASK OF THE NEWLY- CREATED NARCOTICS AND DRUGS DIVISION OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS.

MR. DAVIES CAUTIONED, HOWEVER, THAT THE TASK WOULD BE FAR FROM SIMPLE, AND WHEN THE PLAN EMERGES, IT WAS LIKELY TO DEMAND CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES AND MOKEY IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

+WE ARE PROCEEDING IN A DELIBERATE AND METHODICAL MANNER, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE WANT A TREATMENT PLAN WHICH WILL SUCCEED AND NOT CREATE PRODLEMS OF ITS OWN, BUT WE ALSO WANT ONE GIVING THE TAXPAYER THE BEST VALUE FOR HIS MONEY, + HE SAID.

"

HE ASSURED COUNCIL THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION +TO PERSIST IN OUR DESIRE TO ERADICATE ADDICTION AND TO FIND A CURE TO ADDICTION AT A REASONABLE COST.+

IN HUMAN TERMS, MR. DAVIES SAID, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY HOW MANY ADDICTS THERE WERE AND THE FIGURE OF 100,000 STATED IN THE WHITE PAPER WAS THE BEST THAT COULD BE PROVIDED.

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