************************************
Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, to a question by the Hon Wong Ting-kwong in the Legislative Council today (October 30):
Question:
It has been reported that members of the public can easily purchase "Salvia divinorum" (a dangerous drug listed in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134)) and a wide array of tools for taking drugs from web sites on the Mainland. Meanwhile, regarding the use of Internet as a platform for selling drugs, the Police have set up a Narcotics Intelligence Team (the Intelligence Team) with four police officers who are responsible for carrying out Internet patrol and collecting relevant intelligence and evidence. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have followed up the aforesaid report; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) according to the understanding of the Intelligence Team, whether the sale of drugs on the Internet is rampant at present; whether it has assessed if the manpower for collection of intelligence is sufficient; whether the authorities have encountered any difficulty in combating the sale of drugs involving web sites outside Hong Kong; if they have, of the difficulties;
(c) of the number of cyber drug trafficking cases detected by the Police since 2008, the details of such cases and penalties imposed on the convicted persons, and set out the information in table form; and
(d) regarding the problem of purchasing drugs on the Internet, whether the authorities have drawn up any measure to curb the activities concerned and stepped up efforts in publicising the relevant legislation; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to tackling the drug problem and has been committed to fighting drugs through the five-pronged anti-drug strategy of preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, legislation and law enforcement, external co-operation and research. To combat online drug activities, the Police set up a cyber patrol team (CPT) in 2008. Since its operation, the CPT has been closely monitoring drug-related information on websites and conduct intelligence-led enforcement operations against local cases. CPT also maintains close liaison with other law enforcement agencies and refers drug-related information on websites in Mainland and overseas to relevant organisations for follow-up.
Our reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) According to record, among the online drug-related local cases handled by the CPT, none of them was related to the possession or trafficking of "Salvia Divinorum" or drug paraphernalia;
(b) and (c) Since its operation, CPT has been closely monitoring online drug activities and the situation is found to be stable. As at September 2013, among the cases handled by the CPT, a total of 30 people were arrested for committing offences under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134), including "trafficking in dangerous drug" under Section 4, "offer to supply or procure dangerous drug" under Section 5 or "possession of dangerous drug" under Section 8. One of them was convicted and sentenced to 12 months probation order. The Administration will continue to ensure sufficient manpower to effectively combat online drugs; and
(d) The Administration will continue to adopt the five-pronged strategy in combating drug activities, including online drug offences. Apart from taking rigorous law enforcement actions, the Administration is also committed to taking preventive education and publicity efforts to enhance the resolve of the general public (especially young people) against drugs, and promote community awareness (including parents and teachers) about the drug problem. Taking into account the growing popularity of the Internet in recent years, the Administration has also launched various Internet anti-drug preventive education and publicity initiatives, including disseminating anti-drug messages through popular websites, discussion fora and social networks frequently visited by parents and young people, as well as mobile phone applications. The Beat Drugs Fund also sponsors a variety of projects to reach high-risk youths online for provision of counselling services and enhancing publicity on drug-related legislation.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:45
NNNN
