5 November 1974
La
Mr James Sillars (South Ayrshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in the light of the forecast by the Hong Kong Commissioner for Narcotics that within the next few years the colony will succeed in bringing its hard drugs problem under control, if he will indicate any new measures introduced to achieve this objective.
NO. 48W
MR DAVID ENNALS
Hong Kong is co-operating with the UN, Interpol, and other countries in the region in tackling the narcotics problem. Two specific measures have already produced good results. These are, firstly
These are, firstly, the posting of a liaison officer from the Hong Kong police to the British Embassy in Bangkok in November 1973 for the purpose of improving the flow of information from those countries which are the source of drugs entering Hong Kong. Secondly, the Narcotics Bureau has been reconstructed and its priorities reassessed. These measures have already achieved outstanding successes in 1974. Up to the present, 4,50 kilograms of opium products with a retail value of HK$ 71.4 million have been seized and five heroin refineries have been discovered. Drugs are now in short supply in Hong Kong and prices are at their highest level ever. Good progress has also been made in breaking up drug syndicates and this pressure will be continued. The Action Committee Against Narcotics (A.C.A.N.) will shortly be considering plans to increase drug treatment and rehabilitation services, to enable them to handle about 15,000 addicts each year and by 1980 their capacity should be in the vicinity of 35,000. Increased emphasis is also being placed on public education. These and other measures should substantially reduce the illicit drug trade in the next few years.
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