TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 398

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Synthetic Drugs

16. On 28th January, 1977, a new Bill was enacted to bring methaqualone and amphetamines under the control of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. This will now make it possible to take more positive action to control the export of synthetic drugs to Japan, in particular methyl-amphetamine hydrochloride. In this respect, two Japanese Police officers visited Hong Kong in March, 1977 and Narcotics Bureau officers have since visited Japan. The personal contact has done much to clarify Hong Kong's attitude to the problem and has set the scene for future co-operation.

Cases and Seizures

17.

(4) Cases: During the 1st Half of 1977 a total of 4,918 separate drug offences were detected resulting in 4,695 arrests and 4,361 convictions. Appendix I provides a breakdown of these offences.

(b) Seizures: Appendix II shows the quantities of dangerous drugs seized in the 1st Half of

1977.

Prices (All expressed in Hong Kong Dollars)

18.

The following were the prices of drugs on the illicit wholesale and retail markets at 30th June, 1977.

(a) Wholesale

Opium (Raw) Opium (Prepared)... Morphine

No. 3 Heroin

(b) Retail at street level

:

Tael

Ounce

Pound

Kilo-

gramme

$ 380

$ 4,560

$ 10,032

$ 540

$ 6,480

$ 14,256

$10,500

$ 23,100

$1,400

$22,400

$ 49,280

Opium (Prepared)...

$1,058

$12,696

$ 27,931

No. 3 heroin

$2,850

$45,600

$100,320

('Tael' is a local term equivalent to 37.7 grammes)

Average purity of No. 3 heroin=31%

Preventive Service

19.

During 1st Half 1977, 591 vessels were searched by the Preventive Service and guards placed on 477 others to deter smuggling. A total of 154,450 items of sea cargo and 12,181 postal packets were examined. 2,408 aircraft were searched and 210,285 items of air cargo examined.

CASE SUMMARIES

Manufacture

20. On 13th April, 1977, Officers of the Preventive Service, acting on information, raided a residential flat in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. On entry they discovered that the manufacture of opium had taken place and seized 0.514 kilogramme of raw opium residue, 0.006 kilogramme of prepared opium, 0.146 kilogramme of opium water and a quantity of paraphernalia normally associated with the manufacture of opium. Chinese male So Chi-yuen (5685/1807/6678) and Chinese female LAM Fung-po (2651/7685/1405) were arrested in the premises.

21. Further enquiries led to a second seizure of 1.158 kilogrammes of prepared opium, 0.377 kilogramme of opium dross and opium smoking equipment from two safety deposit boxes in the name of LAM Fung-po (2651/7685/1405). Both defendants have been jointly charged with Manufacturing a Dangerous Drug. LAM faces three additional counts of Possession of Dangerous Drugs for the Purpose of Unlawful Trafficking whilst So faces two additional similar charges.

(PS/101/102/77)

22.

In the early hours of 26th April, 1977, a party of uniformed-branch Officers from Tsz Wan Shan Police Station conducted a raid at a wooden hut in Chuk Yuen Village, Kowloon. Inside the hut the officers seized 108 grammes of prepared opium, 1,080 ccs of opium water and a quantity of paraphernalia normally associated with the manufacture of prepared opium. Chinese male TSE Wo (6200/0735) was arrested and charged with (a) Manufacturing a Dangerous Drug and (b) Possession of Dangerous Drugs for the Purpose of Unlawful Trafficking. TSE was later convicted and sentenced to 12 months and 1 month imprisonment on each of the charges.

(TWS/CR/438-9/77)

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