TNAG-0103-FCO40-139-Briefs-and-background-notes-for-Lord-Shepherd-1967 — Page 131

RESTRICTED

the Cormission of the measures that the Hong Kong Government has

takon to assist and implement its work.

Prevention of Snuggling and Trafficking

4. Over recent years both the Preventive Service, which is responsible

for measures against smuggling, and the Police Narcotics Bureau have

been strengthened considerably.

Seizures in pounds weight for the period 1963/1966 are as

5.

follows:-

Opium

Morphine

Heroin

1963

1,648

340

264

1964

1,995

292

91

1965

6,540

407

78

1966

10,904

896

56

Those figures, reflect the unremitting efforts of the authorities and

represent a considerable degree of success. The loss to traffickers in

1966 through drugs seized is estimated at 70 million dollars.

6. The nature and geography of Hong Kong port, the great amount of

traffic in the harbour, and the rapid turn round of shipping necessary

to meet the requirements of its legitimate commercial trade, are all

factors which nake fully effective measures against smuggling physically

impossible. Special guard and search arrangements are in force for

vessels coning from narcotic-suspect ports (e.g. Bangkok) but, even in

the case of these vessels, the ingenuity of the smugglers and the ease

of concealment of narcotic drugs is such that most seizures are the

result of information received.

Drug Addiction

7.

Estimates of the extent of drug addiction are always very

difficult because heroin addiction (opium addiction is now very rare)

is a private vice which requires no tell-tale proparation. The

Hong Kong Government's own estinate, confirmed by rocent survey using

nodern sampling methods made on behalf of the Hong Kong Discharged

RESTRICTED

/Prisoners'