(d)
•
39 -
there is any evidence to show that triads are involved in drug trafficking in the district?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
(c)
Drug trafficking activities in the Yuen Long District bear no direct relationship to police manpower in the district. The present manning scale of the Yuen Long Police District is considered to be adequate; police manning scales are of course kept under review from time to time. It should be noted that Police enforcement action against drug traffickers is not confined to Yuen Long District police manpower; action is also taken by Police Regional and Police Headquarters units.
The Police have taken, and will continue to take enforcement action, which has resulted in more arrests and improvements to the situation on the ground. In addition, assistance has been sought from the public, through the District Fight Crime Committee and community organisations in supplying information to the Police. But enforcement action alone does not provide a long-term solution to the drugs problem, which is not of course particular to Yuen Long District. Treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, and preventive education and publicity are necessary to help reduce the demand for drugs. Thus, the Governor will chair a Summit Meeting on Drugs on 6 March to encourage community participation, and to draw on ideas from a wide sector of the community.
Although street-level drug traffickers may concentrate in particular areas at particular times, they are highly mobile and they do change their locations and methods of operation quickly. Thus, while black spots can occasionally be identified, Police enforcement action tends to make them short-lived.
(d)
It is believed that many street level traffickers have some sort of triad affiliations. However, there is little evidence to indicate that drug trafficking is directly related to triad activities.
End/Wednesday, February 22, 1995