XN000022-1974-06-13 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1974

PREVENTIVE SERVICE WINS PRAISE

FOR DETERMINED DRIVE AGAINST DRUGS

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NOTABLE SUCCESSES ARE BEING ACHIEVED BY THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE IN THE SEIZURE OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND THE ARREST OF TRAFFICKERS, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, MR. DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY WHEN HE OPENED THE NEW PREVENTIVE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL AT TAI LAM CHUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES

+THE CUNNING, RESOURCES AND THE GROWING SOPHISTICATION OF THOSE ENGAGED IN THIS EVIL TRADE IS BEING MATCHED BY THE DETERMINATION OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE, WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE, TO EXTERMINATE THIS BLIGHT ON OUR SOCIETY, MR. ROBERTS SAID.

+NEW METHODS AND BETTER EQUIPMENT ARE CONTINUALLY BEING EMPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE AND IT IS THE COMMUNITY'S FERVENT HOPE THAT THESE EFFORTS WILL GRADUALLY DESTROY THIS WICKED TRAFFIC, WHICH HAS RUINED THE LIVES OF SO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS.+

THE ACTING GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE WIDE RANGE OF TRAINING FACILITIES OFFERED AT THE NEW SCHOOL WOULD. HAVE A BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON THE ALL-ROUND EFFICIENCY OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE.

THE SCHOOL WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A VENUE FOR SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES, ENGAGED IN ANTISMUGGLING. WORK, THUS ENSURING THAT HONG KONG CAN FULLY MEET ITS INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS IN PREVENTIVE WORK.

+THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW TRAINING SCHOOL HAS BEEN FOLLOWED WITH CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THE ASIAN REGION AND IT IS ENCOURAGING TO LEARN THAT COURSES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE REGIONAL CUSTOMS LIAISON IN DRUG SUPPRESSION ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGE, MR. ROBERTS SAID.

HE RECALLED THAT IT WAS ALMOST 65 YEARS SINCE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ENACTED AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION OF DUTY ON LIQUORS. THIS MEASURE HAD NECESSITATED THE HURRIED APPOINTMENT OF 24 OFFICERS TO FORM A PREVENTIVE SERVICE TO ENFORCE THE NEW LEGISLATION.

THE SERVICE, WHICH NOW CONSISTS OF ABOUT 1,200 OFFICERS, IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING REVENUE DUTY, MR. ROBERTS SAID, AND THE REDEIPT OF ABOUT $441 MILLION IN 1973-74 WOULD NO DOUBT SURPRISE THOSE WHO ESTABLISHED IT IN 1909, AND SQ WOULD THE WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER DUTIES WHICH THE SERVICE 13 NOW REQUIRED TO PERFORM.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE BEST KNOWN, AND PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT, OF ITS OTHER FUNCTIONS WAS ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANTI-NARCOTIC ACTIVITIES, WHICH HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT AND VITAL CONCERN OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE SINCE 1914.

/+INDEED,