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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1975
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NEW NARCOTICS COMMISSIONER APPOINTED
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THE APPOINTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED, TODAY OF I. E.I. LEE AS THE COMMISSIONER FOR MARGOTICS TO SUCCEED MR. NORMAN ROLPH WHO LEAVES HONG KONG ON FRIDAY (MARCH 21) 011 PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE.
MR. LEE IS CURRENTLY DEPUTY SECRETARY IN CHARGE OF THE MANAGEMENT UNIT OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT,
MR. ROLPH WILL BE LEAVING HONG KONG AFTER SERVING ALMOST 30 YEARS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
HE FIRST JOINED AS A POLICE CADET IN 1946 AND LATER THAT YEAR WAS APPOINTED AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDANT, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF PROMOTIONS CULMINATING IN HIS APPOINTMENT AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN 1969.
DURING HIS SERVICE WITH THE POLICE HE WAS AWARDED THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN 1961 AND THE QUEEN'S POLIGE MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN 1966.
MR. ROLPH LEFT THE POLICE FORCE IN 1972 AND ASSUMED THE NEWLY CREATED POST OF COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS IN AUGUST OF THE SAME YEAR.
IN THIS POSITION, HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON THE ERADICATION OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND FOR THE REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS.
HIS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE NARCOTICS FIELD IN THE POLICE PROVED INVALUABLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT PLANS WHICH LED PROGRESSIVELY FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE PILOT SCHEME IN 1972 TO THE PREPARATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON THE PROBLEM OF DANGEROUS DRUGS IN HONG KONG APPROVED DY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MAY LAST YEAR.
IN JANUARY 1973, MR. ROLPH WAS AWARDED THE 0.B.E,
MR. LEE SERVED IN TANGANYIKA AS A DISTRICT COMMISSIONER AND IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE FROM 1950 DEFORE TRANSFERRING TO HONG KONG IN 1961 AS A SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. HE WAS PROMOTED TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, STAFF GRADE B, IN 1963.
IN JUNE 1972 HE WAS SECONDED FOR SPECIAL DUTIES WITH THE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS, MCKINSEY AND CO., WHO HAD BEEN HIRED TO EXAMINE THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT. ON THE CONSULTANTS' DEPARTURE IN JULY 1973 MR. LEE WAS APPOINTED TO HEAD THE NEW UNIT CREATED TO OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS.
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