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23.
It is not clear who will be contending for the places vacated by the current syndicate heads. There is some speculation amongst syndicate sources that the Chiu Chow control of the higher echelons will gradually be replaced, and one ethnic group almost as deeply involved in illegal activities, the Fukienece, may well take over certain positions in the narcotics hierarchy, Any transfer of power from the Chiu Chow is likely to be beneficial from a Police viewpoint; taciturn and close-knit, the Chiu Chow fraternity was extremely difficult to penetrate there is unlikely to be the same fierce loyalty amongst new elements. Also, competition for positions of importance will of necessity breed rivalry, and in such an atmosphere it may be expected that one aspirant to power may well inform on others; from an enforcement point of view, such rivalry could lead to deeper penetracion of syndicates and consequently greater damage being inflicted upon them.
It
24.
It is possible that we will see imports of No. 3 heroin direct from Thailand; this is believed to have already been tried (see para. 4 above). In large quantities, however, heroin is a bad traveller; it is particularly susceptible to damp and thus may not survive a trawler voyage in the types of package normally used. is possible therefore that new packaging methods will be developed to enable larger-scale shipments to be made hermetically sealed tins, for instance, could be used to protect the heroin from the rigours of a three-week sea voyage. To maintain the current level of supply it is estimated that something in the region of 500 lbs. of heroin per week is needed on the streets of Hong Kong; it is unlikely that this amount can be supplied solely by air, and it is therefore almost inevitable that syndicates will seek to develop a safe method of transport seaborne/for large amounts of heroin.
The Problems
25.
The problem of detection as far as large-scale imports by trawler is concerned remains unchanged; a larg› fishing fleet, a lengthy coastline and a shortage of patrol craft nakes detection extremely difficult. The possibility of increasing amounts of narcotics passing through Kai Tak is being kept very much in mind, and Preventive Service have recently redeployed their resources to substantially reinforce their airport staff; in addition two more drug location dogs have been stationed at the airport. A similar reinforcement of ship searching staff is also under way. The seizure from a Thai female of 5 lbs. of morphine and lb. of No. 4 heroin at Kai Tak on 26th November may be only the beginning; it was interesting to note that the morphine had been sliced into thin slabs to fit into a false--bottomed suitcase, which would suggest that the use of air traffic is obviously very much under consideration by traffickers.
26.
At addict level the problem will be one of lack of supply. One avenue open to addicts has already been discussed approaching methadone clinics and hospitals for treatment. This may strain existing facilities, but DIHS is aware of the problem and contingency plans for
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