PUBLIC ORDER
Narcotics
The retail price of No. 4 heroin remained stable at about $427 per gram, while the average purity of heroin seized hovered around the 50 per cent mark. During 1998, 209.4 kilograms of heroin were seized, compared with 202 kilograms in 1997. Police and Customs made 10 773 arrests for narcotic offences, compared with 12 483 arrests in 1997.
The decline in heroin seizures is mainly attributed to traffickers' having stopped using Hong Kong as a transshipment centre and the continued practice by trafficking syndicates of storing drugs in bulk across the boundary and bringing only small quantities into Hong Kong to satisfy local demand. This is also in line with the continued fall in the number of reported heroin drug abusers recorded by the Central Registry of Drug Abuse since the peak in 1994. Enforcement action resulted in 11 heroin adulterating centres being neutralised.
A total of 232.7 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized in 1998, compared to 73 kilograms seized in 1997. In June, a joint operation with the Guangdong and Zhongshan Public Security Bureaux resulted in a methamphetamine production facility in Zhongshan being neutralised. A total of 391 kilograms of methamphetamine and 472 kilograms of ephedrine were seized the largest single seizure of methamphetamine in the world to date.
Since the introduction of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance in 1989, total assets valued at $320.7 million have either been ordered to be confiscated or paid to the government. Further assets of a value of $154.2 million were under restraint pending confiscation.
In an effort to assist the rehabilitation of juveniles, the Superintendent's Discretion Scheme was expanded to facilitate the cautioning of first time minor opiate drug offenders. Mandatory urine tests were incorporated into the scheme to screen out opiate addicts, who would be dealt with by the courts where appropriate treatment could be imposed.
Crime Prevention
The Crime Prevention Bureau continued to promote its services to both the public and private sectors with more than 30 000 security surveys completed during the year. These surveys were compiled for the force, the SAR Government, consulates, courts, banks, hotels, and other large commercial interests. Security services were provided for organisations planning to integrate security features into new buildings.
More than 700 security companies which have applied for licences were inspected to ensure that a high standard in the industry is maintained. The Crime Prevention Bus and Robotcop continued to provide basic security advice to residents.
Crime Information
The Criminal Records Bureau plays an important role in the administration of justice in the SAR by providing criminal records to the courts to aid in sentencing offenders. In 1998, 83 399 new conviction records were created.
The bureau indexes information on wanted, suspected or missing persons, identifiable stolen property, missing vehicles and outstanding warrants. Other records and indices maintained in the bureau provide a means of identifying perpetrators of
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