TNAG-0506-FCO40-571-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 12

A

B

CONFIDENTIAL

機密

6

2

XCC(74)96

Hong Kong has one of the most serious problems of heroin addiction in the world. Furthermore, some heroin illicitly manufac- tured in Hong Kong is smuggled into America, Europe, the United Kingdom and elsewhere which sullies Hong Kong's reputation inter- nationally. So serious is illicit heroin production here to the health and moral well being of substantial numbers of our population that we are justified in taking any reasonable measure to stamp it out.

7

One such measure would be to introduce legislation to exercise stringent control over the three chemicals essential for heroin manufacture and to attach severe penalties for those convicted of breaking the law. This is what the Acetylating Substances (Control) Bill 1975 (Annex A) and the Acetylating Substances (Control) Regu- lations 1975 (Annex B) aim to achieve,

8

The more important clauses of the bill are:

(a) Clause 3 which prohibits import or export

without a licence;

(b) Clause 4 - which prohibits dealing without a

licence;

(c) Clause 5 - which prohibits manufacturing

without a licence;

(d) Clause 6 - which prohibits possession without

a licence except in transit;

(e) Clause 7 - which prohibits trans-shipment

without a permit;

(f) Clause 8

-

which provides that a licence or permit shall be subject to such conditions as the Director of Commerce and Industry may specify;

(g) Clause 15 - which provides for a fine of $1 million

and imprisonment for 15 years on conviction on indictment with a fine of $500,000 and imprison- ment for 3 years on summary conviction in respect of (a) to (e) above.

9

The Regulations to be made under clause 16 of the bill provide for the close monitoring of any acetylating substance im- ported into Hong Kong under licence by:

CONFIDENTIAL

機密