TNAG-1709-FCO40-2384-Hong-Kong-narcotics-offences-and-drug-trafficking-1988 — Page 194

P

DPA

follows :

Page 280 Para. 1

M. 2

HUD 385/

RECEIVE

LINA

1 MAY 1987

OFFICER

PA

REGISTRY [Action Tuken

smet

My comments on the INCSR report

The second sentence seems to imply that most of the heroin which enters Hong Kong is the No. 4 variety. In fact the heroin consumed in Hong Kong is No. 3 heroin, a less pure product. The rest of the paragraph is essentially accurate i.e. No. 4 heroin, but to a much smaller extent some heroin base, transits or is re-exported through Hong Kong to Europe, Australia and North America, where traffickers can profit from the very high street prices overseas. However I do not agree that this trend reflects any preference by traffickers for importing No. 4 heroin to the territory, as in the main No. 4 heroin reaches these overseas markets without ever passing through Hong Kong. While the reference to No. 4 heroin being converted to No. 3 heroin is, in part, correct, there were only one or two instances during early 1986 where it appeared traffickers had attempted such conversion, albeit with a very poor end product.

Para. 2

While some traditional/long standing Chinese traffickers have triad affiliations, it is not true to say they are usually members of criminal syndicates (triads). Triad societies are not organised crime syndicates. In many cases the leaders of triad societies in Hong Kong are only involved in organising the society and are not involved in other criminal activities. Organised crime syndicates can be made up of persons from different societies, or a mixture of triad and non-triad members, while others are made up wholly of non-triads.

Paras. 3 and 4

Para. 5

These paragraphs are essentially correct.

While it is true that traffickers are using younger couriers in their 20's, we do not agree with the rest of this paragraph. Young triads normally have proved themselves by taking part in gang fights and assaults.