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and coordinates executive action in the field.
14. In September 1965 the Reform Club sent a "Report on Organised
Crine" to the Governor which, anongst other things, contained allegations
that there were drug rings operated by people in high positions which
appeared to be immune fron prosecution, and an apparent tic-up between
the drug traffic and the smuggling of gold through the colony from the
Macao froe narkot. The report alloged the position was such as to require
the appointment of a special commission of enquiry by H.M.G. or the
Governor. (Sinilar allegations had been made earlier in the year by
Mr. Frederick Joss, an unstable ox-Fleet St. journalist now deceased, in
press articles and in letters to the Secretary of State). The Hong Kong
Government's reply to the Reform Club pointed out that these statements
were unaccompanied by any supporting evidence, and that if they had such
evidence it should be made available to the police. Assiduous police
investigation of the drug traffic had not revealed any, The Police Force
was making continuous efforts to check and eradicate as far as possible
all forus of vice and the Government was satisfied that a special
commission of enquiry would be unlikely to disclose any significant
information that is not already known and, where possible, acted upon.
There is no case for the appointment of a Commission by H.M.G. to
inquire into the position and it is very unlikely that a formal enquiry
would produce any evidence of value. Those who have information are less,
15.
rather than nore, likely to give it in so public a manner. There is a
lack of knowledge of the local extent and causes of drug addiction but
this is not a field in which investigation by outside experts, unfamiliar
with local Chinese society, is likely to help very much.
16.
The situation was discussed by Mrs. White at her meetings with the
Governor and his officials during her visit to Hong Kong in January.
Mrs. White said that she appreciated the difficulties of the problen and
asked to be kept informed of developments.
Hong Kong Department,
October, 1967.
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