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Because of the huge number of vehicles in and out of the harbor, the Preventive Force searches or "guards" only vessels from suspect ports-Southeast Asia, India, and Pakistan. Out of an average 600 ships per month, 150 are from suspect ports. Of these, 30 to 50 merit constant surveillance and 40 to 72 are searched. The figure for the last 2 years follow:
Ocean-going vessels
Arrivals. Guarded. Searched.
1972
1971
7,890 448 639
7,714
521
571
The searches which are conducted are for the most part futile. We accompanied members of the Preventive Service abroad an ocean ves- sel. An adequate search they said would take 3 months or more. They have only hours. We were impressed by the desire of the Service to do a job. Their frustration was also apparent. They'll give it 100 percent, but no matter how much they try--or how good a job they do-it's just too big for them.
Drug abuse in Hong Kong by U.S. military personnel
From August through December 1972. a sudden rise in the incidence. of apparent heroin overdose cases among visiting U.S. 7th Fleet per- sonnel caused concern but hopefully has since abated. Seven deaths in Hong Kong, two in Japan associated with prior calls at Hong Kong, and about 20 nonfatal drug overdose cases in Hong Kong were noted during this period. In the 18 preceding months, only one death was attributed to drug overdose during Hong Kong port visits.
The reason for the sudden rise in these incidents is not entirely clear. There was an increase in the number of visiting personnel during the latter part of 1972 but the increase seems insignificant in terms of the incidents. Some 49,000 personnel visited Hong Kong during Janu- ary-July, and some 50.600 during August-December 1972. Possible ex- planations include an increased availability of heroin to the visitors, and unfamiliarity of visitors with the higher degree of purity of Asian heroin. Previously, sailors seeking drugs had to search them out. How- ever, during the latter part of 1972, bar girls in areas frequented by naval personnel were becoming active in arranging purchases of nar- cotics by visitors.
A concerted effort by the Commander. 7th Fleet is being made to alert visiting personnel to the dangers of narcotics use in Hong Kong, and active measures are being taken by the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and Narcotics Bureau to suppress heroin activity in areas fre- quented by visiting personnel. Thus far during 1973 (January-Febru- ary 21), no incidents have been noted.
Problems impeding enforcement
Despite the recent steps to upgrade the enforcement effort. Hong Kong will continue to act as a funnel for heroin destined for the United States unless some fundamental changes take place.
Smuggling into Hong Kong is almost impossible to control because : (1) it is a free port and the economy of the Crown Colony is de- pendent upon its being easily accessible; (2) many drops are made outside of the jurisdictional waters of the Crown Colony; (3) per- sonnel are not adequate, and (4) intelligence is lacking.
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