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be set up on a table top and are, thus, able to move quickly. Most of the chemists are Chinese who received their training in Hong Kong. Five 3 heroin refineries and one 3 and one #4 refinery were closed in 1972 and one #3 heroin lab and one #4 heroin lab this year. One of the six labs seized in 1972 was the largest one ever found in Hong Kong. Of the 50 or more refineries in operation, only 15 are needed to supply the local addict population. Many of these operate in the Walled City in Kowloon, a Chinese community seemingly immune from the police. When they were accused of not acting because of political pressure from China, the government officials reacted with great energy. It was obviously a sore point. The question of sover- eignty over the Walled City is one not argued about publicly. The ancient Chinese proverb of "letting sleeping dogs lie" seems to cover the situation. In our opinion, the problem does to a certain extent complicate police activities.
It is estimated that 48 tons of opium are smoked in Iong Kong annually and 4 tons of heroin are consumed. Local officials also esti- mate that 4 to 10 tous of heroin is transshipped from Hong Kong (primarily by body pack) to the United States anually, but accurate information is lacking. $10,000 worth of heroin in Hong Kong would retail for $50 to $60 million in the United States.
From reports we received in The Netherlands, it is also apparent that heroin is being transported by air and ship to the Netherlands from Hong Kong to supply the 7th Army in Germany. The potential for growth of these shipments is unlimited.
Enforcement efforts
Overall narcotic enforcement efforts are centered in the Com- mission of Narcotics which was established in June 1972. N. D. Rolfe is the first Commissioner. He serves under the Secretary of Home Affairs and is responsible for coordinating police, customs, prison, and medical programs concerned with narcotics.
From our conversations with Mr. Rolfe, it appears that the Commis- A sion is essentially a one-man operation. He is presently compiling a report on the overall drug situation, both international and domestic. Until the report is finished, no major changes in current enforcement policies can be expected. The completion of the report is at least 1 year off. One questions why this wasn't done before in view of the long history in Hong Kong of drug addiction.
The three major enforcement agencies are the Preventive Force (customs). the Narcotics Bureau, and the Hong Kong Police.
Out of a police force of 15.000. 200 concentrate on narcotics intel- ligence-100 of these were just added. The 200 seem to be a small number in view of the magnitude of the problem.1 Seizures last year. however, dramatically increased, both an indication that enforce- ment efforts have stepped up and trafficking has increased to and through Hong Kong since American troops have left Vietnam. Last year the largest amount of morphine ever was seized (up 84 percent
2 It should be noted that the officials feel all of the police force of 15,000 are involved In drug enforcement and that the 200 is a misleading figure.
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