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Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, to a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah on cross-boundary drug problem in the Legislative Council today (April 25):
Question:
It has been reported that in January 2005, the Guangdong police authorities and the Judiciary Police of Macao had signed an agreement under which the anti-drug units of both sides would co-operate in the transfer to Macao of Macao residents arrested for taking drugs within the Guangdong Province. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the Hong Kong Police Force has signed a similar agreement with the Guangdong authorities; if it has, of the specific procedure for transfer provided under the agreement; if it has not, the procedure currently followed by the Guangdong authorities in sending back to Hong Kong the Hong Kong people arrested for taking drugs on the Mainland;
(b) of the number of Hong Kong people arrested on the Mainland for taking drugs and subsequently sent back to Hong Kong in the past three years, and the number of them who were under 21 years of age; and
(c) whether law enforcement agencies of the territory have reviewed and discussed with the mainland authorities the problems of cross-boundary drug trafficking and Hong Kong people (especially youngsters) taking drugs on the Mainland over the past three years; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) We have not signed an agreement but have agreed with the Guangdong authorities on a mechanism for handling the return of Hong Kong residents arrested within the Guangdong Province for abusing drugs. When notified by the Mainland authorities, the Police will, where necessary and practicable, assist those Hong Kong residents to return to Hong Kong. We will liaise with the relevant social workers to provide counselling and follow-up services to those who are willing to receive them.
(b) In the past three years, the Administration has assisted 135 Hong Kong residents arrested within the Guangdong Province for abusing drugs to return to Hong Kong. 14 of them were aged under 21.
(c) The Administration has maintained close liaison with Mainland authorities on formulating and streamlining strategies and co-operation arrangement to tackle the problems of cross-boundary drug trafficking and Hong Kong residents (including youngsters) abusing drugs in the Mainland. Hong Kong and Mainland law enforcement agencies exchange information and intelligence on cross-boundary crimes including cross-boundary drug abuse, draw up operational directions and take joint actions to interdict drug trafficking activities. Law enforcement officers also visit and hold regular meetings with their counterparts to update each other on the latest drug abuse and drug trafficking situation in the region.
We have developed a tripartite co-operation framework with our Guangdong and Macao counterparts to promote exchanges and co-operation in anti-drug efforts among the three places. Starting from 2001, tripartite conferences or functions to tackle drug abuse and trafficking have been held regularly. Information is exchanged and experience shared on various fronts covering law enforcement, research, treatment and rehabilitation as well as preventive education.
In addition, we have discussed the problems and drawn up measures in consultation with the Action Committee Against Narcotics. The Committee comprises members from various fields including youth, social work, medicine, academia, Legislative Council Members and Government departments. We have embarked on a series of publicity and preventive education activities:
(i) We have produced a series of docu-drama "Anti-Drug Files" featuring real life drug abuse cases, and launched the "Sponsorship Scheme on Anti-Cross-boundary Drug Abuse Projects", which provides funding to 18 projects on anti-drug educational and publicity activities targeting young people. We are producing an education kit for primary and secondary schools to disseminate anti-drug messages and consequences of cross-boundary drug abuse, and a TV programme of ten one-minute episodes to spread anti-drug messages, especially the dangers of cross-boundary drug abuse. We will produce VCDs of the TV programme for distribution to schools and non-government organisations;
(ii) Police officers at the border district regularly conduct education and publicity activities at the boundary crossings. The community leaders of the District Councils and District Fight Crime Committees also assist in person to distribute leaflets there about the harmful effects of drug abuse to people going to the Mainland; and
(iii) We will continue to step up publicity and educational activities, including the broadcast of APIs through the mass media and KCR trains, and displaying spectacular panel posters at KCR Lo Wu Station during long holidays.
Ends/Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:01
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