ENG-2003 — Page 421

PUBLIC ORDER

Drug Abuse, Statistics and Trends

Statistics on drug abuse are supplied by the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA). Information on drug abusers is collated by the Registry through a wide network of reporting agencies, including law enforcement departments, treatment and welfare agencies, hospitals and clinics. During the year, about 15 600 drug abusers were reported to the Registry. Of these, 28 per cent were newly reported cases, 14 per cent were aged under 21 and 84 per cent were male. The proportion of drug abusers in the general population remained relatively small at about 2.6 per thousand.

Heroin remained the drug most commonly abused in Hong Kong. It was abused by 75 per cent of the persons reported to the Registry. In comparison with the past, the trend is that more people who were reported to the Registry abused psychotropic substances (37 per cent) when compared with five years ago (22 per cent). The most common psychotropic substances of abuse included ketamine (14 per cent), triazolam/midazolam (11 per cent), cannabis (7 per cent), and 'ecstasy' (7 per cent). About 21 per cent of the drug abusers were reported to have abused more than one drug.

Research

Drug-related research studies are coordinated by the ACAN Subcommittee on Research. The findings of these studies provide useful reference materials to facilitate the Government's planning of anti-drug strategies and programmes. During the year, one new project was identified for implementation. Another five studies were carried forward and two studies were completed.

The computerised CRDA serves to monitor changes in trends and characteristics of the drug abuser population in Hong Kong, and produces statistics for in-depth analyses. Two half-yearly reports on characteristics of drug abusers were published.

International Action and Regional Cooperation

The Government participates in international forums against drug abuse, drug trafficking and money laundering. Apart from fulfilling its obligations under the three major UN conventions concerning narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the Government also maintains close links with the UN and the World Health Organisation, the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), the World Customs Organisation and other governments, so as to ensure Hong Kong's anti-drug and anti-money laundering work on various fronts remains in step with current international standards and requirements.

In April, representatives from the Narcotics Division attended the 46th session of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs, held in Vienna, as members of the delegation of China. The meeting helped keep Hong Kong abreast of the world drug abuse situation, as well as trends in illicit drug trafficking and supply.

In response to the big increase in traffic and passenger flows between the Mainland and Hong Kong in recent years, the Narcotics Division has developed close ties with. the Bureau of Narcotics Control of the Ministry of Public Security in order to align anti-drug policies and strategies. Furthermore, the Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department have also established cooperative mechanisms with their Mainland counterparts. The scope of cooperation includes exchange of information and intelligence, assistance in investigation, and mounting of joint operations as well as experience-sharing seminars which are conducted from time to time.

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