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Public Order

LEAs; giving notifications to those affected in cases of interception or covert surveillance without the authority of a prescribed authorisation; and making recommendations to the Secretary for Security on the code of practice issued under the ordinance and to the heads of LEAs to better carry out the objects of the ordinance or the provisions of the code of practice.

The commissioner submits annual reports to the Chief Executive with statistical information and his assessment of overall compliance with the ordinance's requirements. The 2017 annual report was submitted to the Chief Executive in June 2018 and tabled in LegCo in November.

Narcotics Division

The Narcotics Division coordinates policies and measures to combat the drug problem. It also oversees anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures concerning two main areas: a declaration and disclosure system on the cross-boundary movement of large quantities of physical currency and bearer negotiable instruments; and outreach to designated non-financial businesses and professions, including lawyers, accountants, estate agents, trust or company service providers and dealers in precious metals and stones, to raise their awareness of relevant measures.

Anti-Drug Strategy and Coordination

The government adopts a five-pronged anti-drug strategy: preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, legislation and law enforcement, external cooperation, and research.

The Action Committee Against Narcotics advises the government on anti-drug policy and measures. Chaired by a non-official, it comprises 19 non-official members from the medical, legal, education, media, business, community and social service sectors, and six official members, namely the Commissioner for Narcotics and representatives from the Education. Bureau, the police and the departments of Customs and Excise, Health, and Social Welfare. Under a reciprocal arrangement with Singapore, the Director of Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau also sits on the committee.

Preventive Education and Publicity

'Stand Firm! Knock Drugs Out!' is the division's main theme in anti-drug preventive education and publicity. Taking into account the latest drug trends, the division focused on publicising the harmful effects of cocaine, cannabis and methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, in 2018. The publicity activities included an annual citywide campaign organised with RTHK to disseminate anti-drug messages to young people, parents and the community at large to raise awareness of drug problems.

The division's 24-hour hotline '186 186′ and instant messaging service '98 186 186; manned by professional social workers, provide convenient channels for people with drug problems to seek help early. Cases are referred to NGOs for treatment and rehabilitation as appropriate.

The division works with the Education Bureau to support schools in conducting anti-drug education programmes for students and to provide professional training for school personnel,

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