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SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 1977
MOST OF THE ITEMS IN THESE PARCELS ARE DEER HORNS, GINSENG AND HERBAL MEDICINES, BUT THERE IS A LARGE PROPORTION OF CLOTHING AND TEXTILE MATERIALS.
+ ITEMS RETURNED BY THE POLICE CONSIST OF EQUIPMENT FOR ILLEGAL FILM SHOWS, TAPE RECORDERS AND AUDIO EQUIPMENT, UNCLAIMED WATCHES, FOUNTA IN PENS AND PERSONAL ITEMS, SOME OF WHICH ARE QUITE VALUABLE AND HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM PEOPLE CONVICTED OF THEFT AND SO ON, MR. KILVERT SAID.
+HERE AGAIN, EVERY ENDEAVOUR IS MADE TO LOCATE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS BEFORE THE ARTICLES ARE SENT TO THIS DEPARTMENT FOR DISPOSAL, HE ADDED.
+
+ONLY ITEMS OF FAIRLY LOW VALUE ARE IN FACT SOLD BY AUCTION. ANY ITEM WHICH IS DEEMED TO HAVE A REASONABLE VALUE IS SOLD BY PUBLIC TENDER OR PRIVATE TREATY BY ARRANGEMENT WITH WELL-KNOWN FIRMS OF JEWELLERS.+
IN 1973-74, 8,000 ITEMS IN THIS CATEGORY REALISED $130,000 COMPARED WITH 35,000 ITEMS VALUED AT $43,000 IN 1975-76,
THERE ARE ALSO GOODS CONFISCATED BY THE POLICE AND COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT. THESE VARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLES AND
LAUNCHES TO BOOKS, FURNITURE WATCHES AND ORNAMENTS IN 1973-74++ 5,000 SUCH ITEMS VALUED AT $218,000 WERE CONFISCATED COMPARED WITH 9,000 ITEMS VALUED AT $250,000 IN 1975-76.
THEY DO NOT, HOWEVER, INCLUDE THE SEIZURE AND SALE OF NARCOTICS THE LARGEST SINGLE ITEM IN TERMS OF QUANTITY AND VALUE. THE SALE OF NARCOTICS IS CARRIED OUT BY THE CROWN AGENTS IN LONDON ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10,300 KILOGRAMS OF RAW OPIUM AND 1,200 KILOGRAMS OF MORPHINE WERE SHIPPED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT TO THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPE.
MR. KILVERT EXPLAINED THAT WHEN NARCOTICS WERE SEIZED BY EITHER THE POLICE OR THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE, THEY WERE KEPT AS EVIDENCE DURING THE TRIAL OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
WHEN THE CASE WAS OVER AND IF THE DRUGS WERE STILL USABLE FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES, THE CROWN AGENTS IN U.K. WOULD OFFER THEM TO WELL-ESTABLISHED MANUFACTURERS OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS. THE PROCEEDS WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO GENERAL REVENUE. ROTTING DRUGS, HOWEVER, WERE DESTROYED IN THE INCINERATORS UNDER STRICT SUPERVISION, HE SAID.
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