SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
SEPT IIIE
73
Colony-U.S.
co-operation in drugs
blitz lauded
Community leaders and drug experts lauded last week's joint effort by Hongkong and American narcotics agents to smash dope rings that provide heroin to U.S. sailors.
The joint move began secretly on Monday last week and ended on Saturday night with weary Narcotics Bureau detectives and American security men adding up the score of arrests, searches and dope hauls made.
The large-scale sweep
aimed at making it as hard as possible for touts and bargirls to sell drugs to visiting American sailors was the first co-operative venture of its kind.
Lauding the move, the Chairman of the Wanchai Kaifong Association, Mr Lee Wan-yuen, said any campaign against drugs, however small, should be welcomed by Hongkong people.
"These international exercises, though palliative in nature, arc a good sign to show that Hongkong and America, two places gravely affected by drugs, are joining hands in deterring the
menace.
"I believe that U.S. sailors and bargirls will find it hard to obtain their doses for a long time to come,” he said.
Mr Lee said both the U.S. and Hongkong should plan more such campaigns in Hongkong since it would prove beneficial to both people.
"They should think big - to catch the culprits and block the sources of drugs by co-operating with more than one country."
To help solve the problem positivicly, the Government should register all addicts in Hongkong with a view to rehabilitating them.
"To do that effectively, the Government should not make it an offence for drug taking.
"Many disowned addicts are now suffering, not only from drugs but also from triad manipulation. By registering them, the Government can keep a record and give them proper treatment,” Mr Lee said.
The Chairman of the Tsimshatsui Kaifong Association, Mr Yu Look-yau, said the fact that the United States cared for its people also benefited Hongkong residents,
"We welcome such efforts as their effects tend to accumulate. A drug-free environment depends very much on international co- operation which can plug the sources of drugs. This in turn will contribute to the well-being of every citizen."
Mr Yu said the raids would not affect local businesses. “We resolutely don't welcome foreign addicts here. And if it harms some part of our tourist industry which deals with such seamy businesses as selling drugs, this is better for Hongkong.
A spokesman for the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts (SARDA) welcomed the move as a clear sign of genuine co-operation between the U.S. and Hongkong.
"We heard much criticism that Hongkong didn't co-operate with America. But last week's drug blitz clearly showed that such criticism is unfounded."
Though it is hard to predict the effectiveness of such a venture at present, similar efforts should he continued to stamp out the drug menace, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the police yesterday urged the public to play its role in the fight against drugs.
Illustrating how the public could help, a police cited the case in last November in which an Indian boy helped the Narcotics Bureau arrest a man suspected of selling drugs to school children in Wanchai.
!
HKK 19/3.