ENG-1993 — Page 203

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HEALTH

Poisons Ordinance, which provides for controls over pharmaceutical products; and the Acetylating Substances (Control) Ordinance, which controls the use of the main precursors in the manufacture of heroin. The Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance provides for the confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking and the countering of drug money-laundering in Hong Kong.

The Royal Hong Kong Police and the Customs and Excise Department seized some 230 kilogrammes of heroin, 590 kilogrammes of cannabis and 20 kilogrammes of cocaine during the year. Following joint operations with overseas law enforcement agencies, a number of international drug trafficking syndicates were neutralised, with substantial quantities of dangerous drugs seized and ringleaders arrested locally and abroad. In 1993, police and customs action resulted in the arrest of 12 100 persons for drug offences.

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Treatment and Rehabilitation

The voluntary Methadone Treatment Programme, operated by the Department of Health in 23 clinics, provides both maintenance and detoxification for out-patients. Methadone maintenance aims to reduce or eliminate an abuser's reliance on opiate drugs, while the detoxification programme aims to eliminate dependence on drugs. The programme has proved to be very effective in serving both drug abusers and the community.

The largest voluntary in-patient treatment programme is run by the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA), which operates an in-patient treatment centre for - up to 380 men on the island of Shek Kwu Chau, and one for up to 39 women at Sha Tin. Linked to these centres are four regional social service centres, five halfway houses, a job skills training laboratory and a clinic which provides pre-admission medical examination, counselling and detoxification services, urine analysis and post-discharge medical care.

A compulsory in-patient treatment programme is operated by the Correctional Services Department under the Drug Addiction Treatment Centres Ordinance. Its drug addiction treatment centres accommodate 784 men on the island of Hei Ling Chau, and 100 women at Tai Lam Chung and Tai Tam Gap. The treatment ranges from two to 12 months, the actual period being determined by the inmate's progress and the likelihood of continued abstinence from drugs following release. All persons discharged are given one year of statutory aftercare.

In 1993, the two voluntary treatment programmes and the Correctional Services Department's compulsory treatment programme admitted 14 200 abusers. On average, 11 000 drug abusers and ex-drug abusers were receiving some form of treatment, rehabili- tation or aftercare every day.

The counselling centre, PS33, set up in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1988 to provide counselling and telephone advice for psychotropic substance abusers, handled 144 cases and 1 455 telephone and ‘drop-in' enquiries during the year. PS33 is operated by the Hong Kong Christian Service, with financial support from the Social Welfare Department.

Preventive Education and Publicity

The government and the community continued to promote anti-drug preventive education and publicity. The anti-drug publicity campaign in 1993 focussed on encouraging young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and to say 'no' to all drugs; and reminding them of the legal consequences of drug-related offences. At the same time, parents were reminded of their responsibility to guide their children away from drugs.