TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 421

CONFIDENTIAL

له

GR 375

IMMEDIATE

CYFR CAT A

FM HONG KONG 038955Z

CONFIDENTIAL

#kk_385/2

RIZEN REGITR, HA.

- 3 MAR 1973

FICER

TO IMMEDIATE FC O TELNO 264 OF 3 MARCH 1978.

1

YOUR TELNO 174 PARA 2(A)

MR RON LEWIS' PQ..

INDE

SUGGEST A REPLY MIGHT BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.

2. DRUG ADDICTION REMAINS ONE OF HONG KONG'S MAJOR PROBLEMS, BUT

THERE ARE ENCOURAGING INDICATIONS THAT THE POSITION IS BEING

CONTAINED.

3. STRENUOUS EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM THROUGH

INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION, LOCAL INTERDICTION AND SEIZURE OF NARCOTICS, AND THE REDUCTION OF DEMAND BY TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND PREVENTIVE EDUCATION. THE YARDSTICKS OF SUCCESS ARE SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN, BUT THE FOLLOWING FACTS INDICATE THE TREND:- (1) THE SUCCESS OF INTERDICTION AFFECTS THE PRICE OF HEROIN. IN JANUARY 1976 THE WHOLESALE PRICE WAS DOLLARS 19,000 A KILO, IN DECEMBER 1976 IT WAS DOLLARS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT PRICE IS

ABOUT DOLLARS 50,000.

(2) THE NUMBER OF ADDICTS UNDER COMPULSORY TREATMENT SUPERVISION

AND AFTER-CARE REFLECTS THE LEVEL OF POLICE ACTION, THE PRICE OF HEROIN, SUCCESS OF EDUCATIONAL PUBLICITY, AND THE PROVISION OF THE RIGHT TREATMENT FACILITIES IN THE RIGHT PLACE. THE TOTAL OF SUCH TREATMENTS COMPULSORY AND VOLUNTARY, HAS EXPANDED FROM 6,000 A DAY IN 1973 TO 15,000.

(3) THE NUMBER OF YOUNG ADDICTS HAS DECLINED. THE PERCENTAGE OF

ADDICTS UNDER 21 IN PRISONS DEPARTMENT DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES FELL BETWEEN 1969 AND 1977 FROM 25 PERCENT TO 5.3 PERCENT,

AND AT THE VOLUNTARY TREATMENT CENTRE AT SHEK KU CHAU THE PERCENTAGE UNDER 21 DECREASED FROM 12.5 PERCENT TO 3.6 PERCENT

OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

14. THE

CONFIDENTIAL