International Conventions

Three international anti-drug conventions apply to Hong Kong. They are the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the Protocol of 1972, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

These three international conventions provide a treaty-based framework for international cooperation to address drug problem. Hong Kong reviews its control regime on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances constantly to ensure compliance with the provisions of the conventions.

International Cooperation

Hong Kong participates actively in international efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking. Every year, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) takes part in the annual session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs as part of the Chinese delegation. Represented by the Customs and Excise Department and the Hong Kong Police Force, HKSAR also joins International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) annually.

IDEC brings together upper-level drug law enforcement officials from South, Central, and North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Far East, to share drug-related intelligence and develop operational strategies that can be used against international drug traffickers.

The Narcotics Division, the Police and the Customs of Hong Kong have also done greatly in international anti-drug action by maintaining close links with the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) , the Interpol, the World Customs Organisation and individual governments.

International Conference on Tackling Drug Abuse

To keep up with world's best practices and draw on experience of how overseas counterparts tackle drug abuse problems and to strengthen cooperation, the Narcotics Division and the Action Committee Against Narcotics organised the "International Conference on Tackling Drug Abuse" on February 23 and 24, 2005. About 400 participants coming from the Mainland, Macau and overseas countries including USA, Japan, Australia and Singapore, etc and local workers took part. The conference successfully enhanced Hong Kong's understanding of the global situation and latest means to tackle the problem, and created opportunities for further cooperation with overseas counterparts. Conference Proceedings (Some documents are provided in English or Chinese only)

Cooperation with Guangdong and Macau

As one of the regions in China with the busiest flow of people and cargo, Hong Kong has been working closely with Guangdong and Macau to deal with drug abuse on a regional level. The three places seek to share experiences and exchange views on various aspects including legislation, law enforcement, preventive education as well as treatment and rehabilitation. The "Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau Conference on Policy to Tackle Drug Abuse and Trafficking" was first held in Hong Kong in 2001. Guangdong and Macau organised the Conference in 2002 and 2004 respectively to enhance mutual understanding of anti-drug policies in curbing cross-boundary drug abuse and trafficking. Officials of the three places took the opportunity to discuss ways to sustain the momentum of further cooperation and establish a liaison mechanism in combating drug abuse. Representatives from the Narcotics Division, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Department of Health, the Correctional Services Department and the Government Laboratory, took part in the last conference.