ENG-1982 — Page 143

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HEALTH

In 1982, some significant amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance were enacted by the Legislative Council to strengthen legal action against illicit manufacture and trafficking of drugs. These amendments included heavy penalties to be imposed on ocean-going vessels repeatedly found to be smuggling excessive quantities of dangerous drugs into Hong Kong; re-definition of the term 'manufacture' (of dangerous drugs) to allow suitable charges to be laid in cases involving equipment and paraphernalia referable only to the diluting or cutting of heroin base; and legal provision for the search of body cavities of suspect drug couriers. Active consideration was being given to sequestrating the assets of convicted major traffickers.

Preventive education and publicity continues to play an increasingly important part in Hong Kong's fight against drug abuse. Work in this area is focused on fostering public awareness of the dangers of drug abuse, promoting community involvement in tackling the problem, and persuading young people not to experiment with drugs or become involved in drug crime. Major preventive education and publicity events in 1982 included district-based campaigns in several areas, concerts, a television variety show, and territory- wide anti-narcotics Chinese essay-writing and poster design competitions for both primary and secondary students. The Youth Against Drugs scheme, a singing competition and mass jogging activities were launched for the second year. There were also training camps and seminars for students, teachers, community leaders and social workers, and a series of exhibitions. An ACAN Youth Volunteer Group was also formed. To support these activities and publicise anti-narcotics messages, television newsclips and films, posters and leaflets were produced.

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The Drug Education Liaison Centre - set up in July 1980 under the Preventive Education and Publicity Section of the Narcotics Division organised anti-narcotics training and education for young people, parents, teachers, students, social workers and voluntary organisations. The centre also produced a range of anti-drug publications during the year, as well as films and slides, and handled requests for information on drug abuse from the public.

During 1982, the Drug Abuse Telephone Enquiry Service received 1 259 enquiries from both addicts and non-addicts. Most enquiries were related to drug addiction treatment facilities.

Externally, Hong Kong continued to play an active and important part in international anti-narcotics operations by maintaining close links with the United Nations, inter- government agencies such as the Colombo Plan Bureau and Interpol and with individual governments in Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. During 1982, Hong Kong took part in 11 international meetings concerned with anti-drug law enforce- ment, treatment and rehabilitation, and preventive education. Hong Kong also made its eighth annual contribution of $100,000 to the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control in support of its world-wide anti-narcotics efforts. These include the opium poppy crop-substitution programme in the 'Golden Triangle' where the boundaries of Burma, Laos and Thailand meet and from where most of Hong Kong's opiate drugs come.

The techniques and methods employed by Hong Kong in its anti-narcotics work have made it an important venue for training anti-narcotics personnel from other countries. In 1982, 113 anti-narcotics officers from various countries came to Hong Kong on study visits and training courses, either through bilateral arrangements with their governments or under the sponsorship of United Nations bodies such as the World Health Organisation, or the Colombo Plan Bureau. At the same time, experienced officers from the Royal