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4. POLICE GRAFT SYNDICATES IN HONG KONG RECEIVE THEIR PRINCIPAL INCOME FROM GAMBLING (CASINOS, CHI FA, OFF-COURSE BETTING), DRUGS
(DISTRIBUTION, BOTH WHOLESALE AND RETAIL), VICE (PROSTITUTION, ILLEGAL MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS, PORNOGRAPHY), TRAFFIC (PROTECTION FROM PROSECUTION), AND HAWKERS (BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL). MAJOR GRAFT SYNDICATES OUTSIDE THE POLICE, OPERATED WITHIN PWD, HOUSING DEPARTMENT, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. OTHER SYNDICATES OPERATED ON A SMALLER SCALE IN NEARLY EVERY OTHER
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.
5. IT IS THE COMMISSIONER'S AIM TO BREAK THE BACK OF ORGANISED,
SYNDICATED CORRUPTION THIS YEAR. IT IS A FORMIDABLE TASK, BUT HE REPORTS THAT ALREADY THERE ARE ENCOURAGING SIGNS. THE COMMISSION HAS CAUSED THE REMOVAL OF MANY FROM THE SYNDICATES AND HAS DISRUPTED THE ACTIVITIES OF A NUMBER OF THEM. SOME SYNDICATES HAVE SHATTERED INTO SMALLER, LESS EFFECTIVE, GROUPS WHILST OTHERS ARE AT LEAST DORMANT OR HAVE CEASED OPERATIONS ALTOGETHER.
6. IN VARIOUS SECTORS, HOWEVER, MAINLY AS A RESULT OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE COMMISSION, THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF GAMBLING: THERE
HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE REDUCTION IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING RESULTANT UPON A CHANGE IN POLICY, THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEGISLATION AND FIRM ACTION BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE. IN PARTICULAR THE ONCE HIGHLY ORGANISED 'CHI FA'' GAMBLING (A LOCAL FORM OF THE ''NUMBERS RACKET'') HAS VIRTUALLY CEASED TO EXIST WHILST MANY ILLEGAL CASINOS HAVE EITHER CLOSED ALTOGETHER OR HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED THEIR ACTIVITIES. CONTINUING STRONG ACTION AGGINST NARCOTICS SYNDICATES BY THE POLICE FORCE AND THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE HAS CAUSED SERIOUS DISRUPTION ALSO. IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST
CORRUPTION OPPORTUNITIES ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
7. BUT THE COMMISSIONER IS FAR FROM COMPLACENT ABOUT THE SITUATION.
THE REWARDS ARE VAST AND THERE WILL NEED TO BE CONTINUED AND
CONTINUING PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR AGAINST SYNDICATED CORRUPTION
IN HONG KONG.
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