A spokesperson for the Security Bureau said today (October 18) that the Government will publish the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2023 (the Order) in the Gazette on Friday (October 20).
​The Order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 25, 2023, for negative vetting, and is expected to become effective on December 15, 2023. Details including the justifications of the legislative proposal could be found from the brief for the Legislative Council issued today at Annex.
The Order would add five substances, namely, 2-methyl-AP-237, etazene, etonitazepyne, protonitazene, and ADB-BUTINACA, to the First Schedule to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO) (Cap. 134). These substances will be under the same strict control as other dangerous drugs under the DDO. Trafficking and illicit manufacturing of these substances are liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million. Possession and consumption of these substances in contravention of the DDO will be subject to a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment and a fine of $1 million.
​The Government has been vigilant in closely monitoring drug trends in and outside Hong Kong, and takes timely action to bring new drugs and precursor chemicals under legislative control. As a regular exercise, the Government from time to time proposes amendments to the DDO as well as the Control of Chemicals Ordinance (Cap. 145) to include new dangerous drugs and precursor chemicals under statutory control, to prevent them from posing a threat to public health and safety. The spokesperson said, "The amendments aim to deter any potential trafficking and abuse of these dangerous drugs and precursor chemicals. This will help fortify Hong Kong's defence against drugs."
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