Police-1959-1960 — Page 51

results of mutual benefit in the collective effort to suppress narcotics traffic.

189. Drug traffic presents one of the major problems facing Hong Kong. There are many factors which make suppression extremely difficult and these include the geographical situation of the Colony, its free port facilities, the number of vessels and native craft using the Colony's 700 square miles of territorial waters and the number of aircraft, which transit the Colony. Those responsible for the illicit traffic in drugs are highly organized, with connexions in many other parts of the world and they use the most ingenious and modern methods.

190. In the main the drugs responsible for the problem in Hong Kong are opium, morphine, heroin and barbiturates. Traffickers continue to make full use of the main sea and air routes converging on the Colony and seizures continue to indicate that a large proportion of the drugs reaching the Colony arrive on vessels and aircraft from Bangkok. Of the morphine seized 62.15% was seized on vessels from Bangkok. Seizure of opium on ships and aircraft from Bangkok amounted to 23% of the total opium seized during the year. Seizure of opium on aircraft from Laos amounting to 24% of total seizures.

191. Most of the morphine, which enters the Colony is either in block or powder form. There is very little morphine addiction and this drug is used mainly for the manufacture of heroin. During the year under review eight heroin factories were discovered and a number of arrests made. Manufacturing paraphernalia was also seized and con- fiscated.

192. Heroin continues to be the principal drug consumed by local addicts. The methods of consumption have not changed to any great extent except that there is a growing tendency to use cigarettes as media of consumption.

193. Apart from the heroin, which is produced locally, supplies continue to be illicitly imported from Macau. Two seizures were made during the year from vessels plying to Hong Kong. These seizures account for approximately 14% of the total heroin seized for the year. The proximity of Macau to Hong Kong, the relationship which exists between traffickers in both places and the number of native craft which ply between the ports, make the problem of suppression of this trade all the more difficult.

194. Pure heroin in powdered form continues to find its way out of the Colony, despite efforts to prevent this traffic. During the year a

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