TNAG-0415-FCO40-461-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 99

nk

K to Step

up war on

'Mr Bigs' of

narcotics

Hongkong is to step up its war on the small group of underground men'who are amassing personal fortunes by organising most of the local trafficking in narcotics.

The Commissioner of Narcotics. Mr N.G. Rolph, said yesterday he considered the Colony's legislation to combat the drug problem as "basically very reasonable."

But he added. "There are, however, certain areas of investigation which we are looking into now particularly in getting to these so called 'Mr Bigs,' who we have not been too successful in getting in the past."

"Mr Bigs" exist not only in Hongkong, but in countries such as America, Thailand and Laos, and said Mr Rolph, "We have to make sure our legislation and procedures are such that we can get our hands on them."

At the moment they are studying the system in the U.S., which is different than what we have here now." The examina tion would see how American procedures could be applied to Hongkong.

Mr Rolph told a press conference yesterday that he expected to publish his report m about two months on future methods that should be employed against the drug problem.

At the moment a register was being compiled of known drug addicts, but: Mr. Rolph said, "The truth is that today in Hongkong nobody knows how many people 'nro addicted 16,

dangerous drugs of one sort or another.

"Knowing how many drug addicts there are won't help us in any way to stop the flow of drugs into the Colony, but it will enable us to plan our programme for treatment and rehabilitation, which at the moment is only quite small."

He did not consider that certain soft drugs like cannabis could be legalised, as he felt research had concluded that abuse of cannabis "is harmful in the long term."

Very little evidence existed, he said, to show that drug addicts often committed violent crimes to obtain money to satisfy their craving. Generally speaking people who wanted' money to get drugs did so by working.

The Chief Superintendent of the Narcotics Bureau, Mr G.R. Dunning, said that probably about 40 tons of opium and several tons of morphine were imported illegally into the Colony in a year.

Mr Rolph said that with the Turkish Government now putting more pressure on stamping out the opium production trade in their country, traflickers may now turn their attention to the Southeast Asia area.

SOUTH CHINA

MORNING POST

APRIL 7TH '73

HXK 19/3

Hongkong, which he agreed

played a part in the world drug trade as it lay on the international traffic lines. "could become more prominent than it is now,"

He added, "We are turning Our eyes to the sources of supply, because here lies the long term solution ง this problem. This will take a long time, but a start has been made. Many new methods are being | applied."

The Assistant Director of the Preventive Service, Mr M.C. Morgan, said that most of their success in large drug hauls was based on information received.

Some countries did plant people into drug circles to achieve results. "But we don't do it here," he said, adding that he did not want to discuss the reasons why they did not.

Mr Dunning agreed that there was a certain amount of rivalry between the police and the Preventive Service involved in the anti drugs war, but said it did not amount to conflict.

Mr Rolph said there was 100 per cent co-operation between Hongkong and U.S. anti narcotics authorities.

Asked about getting" co- operation from the Chinese navy, he replied, "It is a very complex subject which would require the consideration of the British Foreign Office and the Chinese Government and it is not a matter on which I can raise any comment here."

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