TNAG-1710-FCO40-2386-Royal-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 30

193.

In subparagraph 8(f) (new subparagraph 9(e)) it was suggested that a formulation along the lines of article 11, paragraph 7, of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances would be more appropriate and the Group agreed to amend the draft accordingly.

194. Commenting on paragraph 9 of the reformulated text (new paragraph 10) several representatives expressed the view that the provisions as drafted were too rigid and detailed. They should not apply to all transactions concerning the substances in List A but only to suspicious consignments. Furthermore the envisaged monitoring system might not keep pace with technological developments and would create considerable workload for Government and industry as more substances would be brought under control. The paragraph should accordingly be deleted. On the other hand, several other

Some other

representatives considered the provisions of the paragraph to be crucial for the implementation of the convention and argued for its retention. representatives expressed the view that while the exchange of information could serve a useful purpose, the provisions should entail only minimum requirements leaving the detailed modalities to be decided by the Parties. The Group agreed to a compromise solution which took into account the various concerns expressed by the experts. Three representatives placed on record their reservations concerning the mandatory nature of the provisions.

195. In its consideration of paragraph 10 of the reformulated text (new paragraph 11) the Group confirmed its earlier tentative decision that the reports should be furnished to the Board on an annual basis. Regarding the reporting of other substances not included in List A or List B as provided for in subparagraph (b), some representatives held the view that this requirement was questionable as it dealt with substances that might not be of concern to all Parties, while it might adversely affect the responsibility of Parties to notify in due time, in accordance with their obligation under paragraph 2, the substances which may warrant inclusion in the lists. Some other representatives were of the view that such reporting would enable the Board to gather data on different substances of abuse in different countries and assist the Board in making its assessment as to their possible inclusion in List A or List B. To take into account these divergent positions, a suggestion was made that such reporting should concern substances which, in addition to being used in the illicit processing or manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, were deemed sufficiently significant by Parties to be brought to the attention of the Board. The Croup agreed to this formulation and adopted paragraph 10 amended accordingly. It also adopted paragraph 11 as it appeared in the reformulated text (new paragraph 12).

196. Commenting on paragraph 12 of the reformulated text (new para. graph 13), the view was expressed that its provisions should not be limited to preparations intended for therapeutic uses as there were other preparations which also had legitimate industrial uses. One representative proposed that the paragraph should be worded so as to take into account such legitimate uses provided that the preparations in question were compounded in such a way that they could not be easily used or recovered by readily applicable means in sufficient quantity to permit significant illicit processing or manufacture of a narcotic drug or a psychotropic substance. The Group agreed to such a formulation.