ENG-2005 — Page 396

342 Public Order

With the emergence of new substances, rapid changes in drug abuse patterns and related crime scenes, it is apparent that the problem of drug abuse and trafficking cannot be tackled purely by drawing upon domestic knowledge and expertise. The Narcotics Division and ACAN jointly organised an international conference on tackling drug abuse in February with the theme, 'recent advances in anti-substance abuse initiatives in the global context'.

In March, representatives from the Narcotics Division, the Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department attended the 48th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, held in Vienna, as members of the Chinese delegation.

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 Guangdong Narcotics Control Commission on matters relating to anti- drug policies and strategies. The Police Force and Customs and Excise Department have also established cooperative mechanisms with their Mainland counterparts and now exchange information and intelligence, assist each other in investigations, mount joint operations and hold experience-sharing seminars.

The Government also keeps in touch with jurisdictions in the region. Representatives of the Narcotics Division and the Police Force attended the second international congress of the ASEAN and China Cooperative Operations in Response to Dangerous Drugs (ACCORD) in October to share Hong Kong's experience with other governments

and foster closer working relationship with anti-drug counterparts.

The Beat Drugs Fund

To promote community efforts to beat drugs, the Government established the Beat Drugs Fund in 1996 with a capital outlay of $350 million. In 2005, a total of $7.67 million was allocated to 20 projects. Apart from education and publicity projects, schemes relating to treatment and rehabilitation and research work were also sponsored such as a project aiming to enhance anti-drug awareness among South Asian ethnic minority groups. Two drug treatment and rehabilitation centres also received funding to improve the condition of the centres. A research study on the standard of the trials conducted on acupuncture used as therapy for heroin. addicts was also allotted funds.

Volunteer Scheme

In 2005, there were 135 individual and 91 corporate volunteers in the Anti-drug Volunteer Group. Individual volunteers participated in 11 anti-drug community and publicity activities, including district carnivals, visits to treatment and rehabilitation centres, exhibitions and seminars. Apart from participating in outreach anti-drug activities, volunteers also served as helpers at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre.

Action Against Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism

To fulfil its international obligations under the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Hong Kong