XN000022-1974-11-26 — Page 3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1974.

THESE ARRESTS SULTED IN 8,860 CONVICTIONS, TOTAL FINES ' AMOUNTED TO OVER $1.5 MILLION AND TOTAL IMPRISONMENT TO 340 YEARS.

VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR SEIZURE MADE BY THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE IN RECENT YEARS HAD BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, MR. MCGREGOR SAID, ADDING INFORMATION IS THE LIFE- BLOOD OF OUR INVESTIGATIONAL EFFORTS.+

HE PRAISED THE PUBLIC FOR REPORTING INFORMATION ON SUSPECTED DRUG ACTIVITIES TO THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND ASSURED THEM OF COMPLETE CONFIDENTIALITY. +WE PROTECT COMPLETELY THE IDENTITY OF THE PERSON GIVING INFORMATION, FOR EVERY OBVIOUS REASONS. AND WE ACTIVELY SEEK TO WIDEN THE NET OF INFORMATION SOURCES.+

THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE ALSO MAINTAINS CLOSE TOUCH WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN MANY COUNTRIES CONCERNED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING. THESE CONTACTS, MR. MCGREGOR SAID, WERE STEADILY EXPANDING AND WERE PROVING BENEFICIAL NOT ONLY TO HONG KONG'S ANTI-DRUGS ACTIVITIES BUT TO SIMILAR EFFORTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

HE HOPED THAT WITHIN A YEAR, THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE WOULD HOST A SEMINAR ON CUSTOMS PROBLEMS IN ASIA, INCLUDING SMUGGLING TO BE ATTENDED BY SENIOR MEMBERS OF OVERSEAS CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES.

AT PRESENT, THE SERVICE HAS ABOUT 1,100 OFFICERS WHO ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE PROTECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT REVENUE FROM EXCISE AND OTHER DUTIES.

MR. MCGREGOR NOTED THAT THERE WAS A TENDENCY TO CONFUSE THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE. IN FACT IT HAD ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE SERVICE WAS SOMEHOW INVOLVED WITH FAMILY PLANNING.

+BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE, WHO IS CONCURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, HAS AN EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE UNDER THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE IMPORT, EXPORT, MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, SALE AND POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS,+ HE SAID.

MR. MCGREGOR NOTED THAT THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE HAD GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH IN RECENT YEARS AND DESPITE THE GREAT PERSONAL RISKS INVOLVED, PREVENTIVE SERVICE OFFICERS, TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE, WERE DÉTERMINED TO CONTINUE HARASSING AND PROSECUTING DRUG TRAFFICKERS WHEREVER THEY WERE FOUND.

+WE SHALL TAKE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE ACTION AGAINST DIVANS AND STREET PEDDLING OF NARCOTICS ..... WE MUST MAKE IT UNPROFITABLE AND VERY RISKY FOR THOSE WHO PROFIT FROM THE TRADE,+ HE SAID.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF MR. MCGREGOR'S SPEECH ARE BOXED FOR COLLECTION.

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