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What is the Narcotics Division, Security Bureau?
The Narcotics Division (ND) is a government unit under the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It coordinates drug policy and anti-drug efforts across departments, rather than being a frontline enforcement body like the police or customs.
What it does
- Policy coordination: It develops and reviews anti-drug strategy and coordinates the work of government departments and other bodies involved in tackling drug abuse.
- Prevention and education: It funds and promotes public education and publicity campaigns aimed at reducing drug use, especially among young people.
- Research and monitoring: It tracks drug-use trends and centralises data on drug abuse, which helps shape policy and service planning.
- Rehabilitation and support: It supports programmes that help people who use drugs to quit and reintegrate, often through partnerships with NGOs and community groups.
- International liaison: It represents Hong Kong in regional and international anti-drug forums and information-sharing.
Who uses it
- Students, teachers and parents looking for reliable drug-prevention information and teaching resources.
- Social workers and counsellors seeking referral information, statistics or campaign materials.
- Researchers and journalists needing official data on drug trends in Hong Kong.
- NGOs and community groups applying for or delivering anti-drug programmes.
How it differs from enforcement agencies
The ND is a policy and coordination body, while the Hong Kong Police Force and Customs and Excise Department handle enforcement. If you need statistics, education materials or policy documents, the ND is the right starting point. If you need to report suspected drug activity, contact the police.
A useful next step: visit Narcotics Division, Security Bureau to find the latest drug statistics, prevention resources and details of funded programmes.
How do I report suspected drug activity or drug trafficking in Hong Kong?
In Hong Kong, suspected drug activity or trafficking is reported to the police, not to the Narcotics Division. The Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau is the government body that coordinates anti-drug policy, research and public education; it does not run an emergency response or case-intake service. For anything in progress or dangerous, call 999 immediately.
Where to report
- Emergency or a crime in progress: call 999. Use this if someone is dealing drugs now, a shipment is being moved, or anyone is at risk.
- Non-urgent drug information: report it to the Hong Kong Police Force through its general enquiry line 2527 7177 or a local police station. The police handle intelligence on trafficking and street-level dealing, and you can ask to give information confidentially.
- Drug rehabilitation and support: if your concern is about a person who needs help rather than a crime to report, the Narcotics Division's website Narcotics Division, Security Bureau lists counselling and treatment services, including the 24-hour hotline run by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.
What to include
Give the police what you actually know rather than a conclusion: the location and time, what you saw or heard, descriptions of people or vehicles, and any pattern you have noticed. Say clearly whether you are willing to be contacted. If you are unsure whether something is worth reporting, report it and let the police assess it — a single detail can connect to a larger case.
A practical example
A reader notices repeated late-night handovers in a car park near their building. They note the times, the vehicle colour and plate if visible, and the direction people walk afterwards, then call the police non-emergency line rather than confronting anyone. That is the safer path in every case: observe, record, report, and do not intervene or put yourself in danger.
If your question is really about policy, statistics or education materials, the Narcotics Division site is the right starting point; if it is about a specific incident, go straight to the police.
What treatment and rehabilitation services are available for drug abusers in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong's official drug-abuse information points readers to a range of treatment and rehabilitation services rather than a single programme. The right option depends on the person's situation: whether they are in crisis, seeking outpatient help, leaving prison, young, or a family member looking for guidance.
Main service types
- Detoxification and residential rehabilitation: Medically supervised detox for people with physical dependence, followed by structured residential programmes that combine counselling, health care and social support. Suited to those who need a stable, drug-free environment.
- Outpatient and community-based counselling: Individual and group counselling, often combined with medical support, for people who can stay in their home and job while receiving treatment.
- Methadone treatment: A long-established substitution treatment for heroin dependence, delivered through dedicated clinics; it reduces withdrawal and illicit use without requiring residential care.
- Voluntary residential centres run by NGOs: Programmes with different lengths, philosophies and admission rules, including faith-based and peer-support models. Entry is usually voluntary, so motivation matters.
- Services for young people: Youth-oriented counselling and support that address school, family and peer pressures alongside drug use.
- Aftercare and reintegration: Follow-up counselling, peer support, vocational and social reintegration help to reduce relapse after treatment ends.
- Family support: Counselling and guidance for relatives, who often initiate help-seeking.
Choosing between them
| Situation | Usually considered first | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Physical dependence, risk of severe withdrawal | Detoxification, then residential rehabilitation | Safer withdrawal, but time away from work and family |
| Stable living situation, early-stage use | Outpatient counselling | Fits daily life, but requires self-discipline and regular attendance |
| Heroin dependence, long-term | Methadone treatment | Accessible and structured, but ongoing clinic attendance |
| Young person with family conflict | Youth-specific counselling | Age-appropriate, but depends on engagement |
| Just left treatment or prison | Aftercare and peer support | Strong relapse protection, but needs sustained commitment |
A practical next step is to start with the official Narcotics Division website, Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, which lists service categories and contact points. From there, call the service that matches the person's circumstances and ask about admission criteria, waiting times and whether family members can be involved. For anyone in immediate medical danger from withdrawal or overdose, emergency health services should come first.
What are the legal penalties for drug offences in Hong Kong?
The Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau publishes Hong Kong's official legal framework for drug offences, but the exact penalty depends on the drug, the quantity, and the offence (possession, trafficking, manufacture, or import/export). There is no single penalty; the law sets different maximums for each offence and schedule of controlled drugs.
How penalties are generally structured
- Possession/possession for use: Typically less severe than trafficking, often handled with a range from fines and short custodial sentences up to longer terms for repeat or aggravated cases.
- Trafficking and manufacture: Treated as the most serious categories, carrying substantially higher maximum penalties, including long custodial sentences.
- Import/export: Also serious, with penalties reflecting cross-border supply.
- Quantity thresholds: The amount involved usually moves a case between summary and more serious charges, so the same substance can attract very different outcomes.
Practical next step
If you are researching a specific situation, check the Narcotics Division's pages on the relevant ordinance and the schedule listing controlled drugs, then match the drug and quantity to the offence category. For a real case, only a Hong Kong solicitor can advise on the applicable charge and likely sentencing range.
For authoritative detail, see Narcotics Division, Security Bureau.
How can I apply for the Beat Drugs Fund or community anti-drug funding?
The Beat Drugs Fund (BDF) is administered by Hong Kong's Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, and is the main route for community anti-drug funding. Applications are made through the Fund's own website and follow a published call-for-application cycle with set forms, assessment criteria and deadlines; check Narcotics Division, Security Bureau for the current round, guidance notes and application form before drafting anything.
What the process typically involves
- Confirm eligibility and project type. The Fund supports anti-drug projects run by NGOs, schools, community groups and similar bodies — for example preventive education, early intervention, rehabilitation support or research. Read the current guidance notes to see which project categories the open round covers.
- Prepare the project plan against the assessment criteria. Reviewers look for a clear drug-related rationale, defined target group, realistic budget, measurable outcomes and evaluation plan. A strong application explains who is reached, how many, and how change will be measured.
- Submit by the stated deadline using the prescribed form and channel. Late or incomplete submissions are usually not considered.
- Expect review and possibly clarification. Applications are assessed by an advisory committee, which may ask follow-up questions or approve funding with conditions.
- Plan reporting from the start. Approved projects normally carry monitoring and evaluation obligations, so build data collection into the design.
Practical next step
Before writing, read one or two previously approved project summaries (often published by the Fund) to calibrate scope and budget size. If your idea is small or time-limited, ask the Narcotics Division whether a community-level scheme or a partner NGO's existing programme is a better fit than a full BDF application.
Where can I find drug statistics and research reports on drug use in Hong Kong?
The official starting point is the Hong Kong Narcotics Division's own website, Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, which publishes the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) statistics and related research on drug use in Hong Kong.
What you will typically find there
- Drug abuse statistics: the CRDA reporting system collects data from treatment and rehabilitation agencies, hospitals, social services and law enforcement, and is the standard reference for trends in reported drug use.
- Research reports: surveys and studies commissioned or published by the Narcotics Division, often covering prevalence, drug types and demographic patterns.
- Beat-drugs information: public education material and campaign resources that put the figures in context.
How to use it
If you need trend figures for an essay, policy brief or journalism piece, begin with the CRDA statistical tables, then read the accompanying report for definitions: the CRDA counts reported abusers, so it shows the treated and known population rather than total prevalence. For survey-based estimates of the wider population, check whether a dedicated household or student survey report is listed on the same site.
Other useful sources
- Census and Statistics Department for population and demographic data to contextualise the figures.
- Department of Health for health-related statistics and substance-use information.
- Social Welfare Department for rehabilitation service data.
A practical criterion: use CRDA figures for trends in reported cases, and a population survey for prevalence estimates; citing one as if it were the other is the most common mistake.
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