XN000022-1972-11-21 — Page 2

Tuesday, November 21, 1972

Mr. Rolph said people could report by letter if they did not want

to do it in person and he urged everyone to give their support and co-operation

so that together we can and will master and defeat the narcotics problem".

The Commissioner for Narcotics also spoke about the use of cannabis

and man-made stimulant and depressant drugs and said this abuse was the

"product of the permissive society and is the subject of more muddled and wrong

thinking than most topics which have come my way".

Fortunately the consumption in Hong Kong of these drugs was very

small when compared to the opiates. But the position could change when opium

and heroin become more difficult and much more expensive to obtain, he said.

For this reason, the situation would need to be watched closely in

the years ahead.

Mr. Rolph added that scientific research completed so far under the

auspices of the United Nations clearly indicated that as a regular habit "the

consumption of cannabis is harmful to the human body and in the long term lends

man-made druge is

to both mental and physical deterioration.

equally harmful and anti-social".

The abuse of

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