TNAG-0415-FCO40-461-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 71

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from 1971) and the largest amount of heroin since 1963 (31 percent up from 1971). The largest seizures of opium were made in 1971. The opium equivalent of the 1972 seizures is almost 121% tons and over 10 tons for 1971 seizures.

The complete record of seizures since 1963 follows:

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS SEIZURES OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS

Opium.. Morphine.. Heroin.

[In pounds)

1963

1964

1965 1966

1967 1968 1969 1970 1971

1972

340

254

292 91

10,904 407 896 78 56

4,790 265

4,110 10,542

971 12,256

11, 202

179

411

170 660

1,214

59

66

22

31

121

157.9

Arrests and convictions have slightly increased since 1967, but the number of those imprisoned has decreased. The record since 1966. follows:

ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, IMPRISONMENT OF PERSONS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL NARCOTICS ACTIVITIES

Year

1972.

1971.

1970

1969

1963.

1967.

1966.

Arrested

Convicted

Imprisoned

16,716

15,918

5,464

15,341

14,490

5,351

13,873

13,328

6.701

13,934

13,067

7,244

13,675

12,920

8, 274

10,074

9,637

6,789

14,337

13, 724

8,794

While arrests and convictions of narcotics violators have continued at an increasingly high level during the past few years, statistics indicate a definite change and trend in the handling of violators in the courts. During 1966-6S, about two-thirds of those convicted of nar- cotics offenses were jailed. Since 1968, the ratio has dropped to a little over one-third of those convicted being jailed. Most of the remainder are warned, fined, placed on probation, or handled in other ways with relatively few committed to rehabilitation programs.

The major reason for the release of so many traffickers and their subsequent resumption of their illegal activities is the lack of mini- mum mandatory sentences. Also, convictions have been difficult to obtain and sentences are not as heavy as they might otherwise be be- cause neither wiretaps nor the income tax laws can be used to gather evidence and apprehend trailickers. Their historical attitude about drugs seems to have affected the sentences.

Hong Kong Preventive Force (Customs)

Of 1,200 in the Preventive Force. 500 search for narcotics at the port and airport, an insuflicient number. We were told that there is some unnecessary competition between the Preventive Force and the Narcotics Bureau-much like that between the BNDD and Customs, and, frankly, not surprising.

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