TNAG-1106-FCO40-1356-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 42

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CONFIDENTIAL

17

Explanatory Memorandum

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The Narcotics Division of the Government's

Security Branch maintains a Central Registry of Drug

Addicts in order to record information on drug abuse

and its treatment in Hong Kong. In order to achieve

its objectives, the Registry collects data from various

sources, including both Government and non-Governmental

agencies.

2.

The object of this Bill is to protect the

confidentiality of the records kept by the Registry

and by those of its sources referred to in the Bill as

"reporting agencies" (defined in new section 49A).

3.

Clause 2 of the Bill inserts into the principal

Ordinance a new Part VIIA, entitled "Confidentiality of

Records", containing new sections 49A to 491. New section

49A is a definition section. By new section 49B the

Central Registry of Drug Addicts becomes the Central

Registry of Drug Abuse; the new name reflects the fact

that the term "abuse" is now considered more appropriate

than "addiction" in this context. As new section 49B(1)(a)

recognizes, the records which the Registry maintains

include information provided by sources other than its

reporting agencies (the latter will be listed in the new Fourth Schedule to the principal Ordinance).

4.

New section 49C will confer upon records of

confidential information maintained by the Registry and

by its reporting agencies immunity from search; it will also confer immunity from enforced disclosure except in

relation to --

CONFIDENTIAL

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