Police-1961-1962 — Page 35

breaches of various Ordinances. Its investigations concern complaints and offences which have no special classification.

Triad Society Bureau

134. There were 301 prosecutions for triad membership offences. The main deterrent still remains the Emergency (Detention Orders) Regula- tions, 1956, which are, however, only invoked in cases involving the more vicious triad members.

135. The main offences committed by Triad members were the run- ning of illicit massage houses, obscene film shows, small dance studios where the victims do not report to the police, the exploitation of pro- stitutes and ticket-scalping at the cheaper cinemas and other similar places of entertainment.

136. There was little evidence of any forcible recruitment of new members and triad activity generally remained at a low level.

Narcotics

137. Hong Kong is not an opium-producing area and local demands are met almost entirely by illicit imports. Those responsible are well organized and unscrupulous, and operate on an international level. They continue to make much use of the regular air and sea services into and out of Hong Kong.

138. The Narcotics Bureau is charged with the collection and colla- tion of narcotics intelligence and its dissemination to other branches of the Force. It works closely with the Preventive Service of the Commerce and Industry Department. Another of its important functions is to co- operate with narcotics suppression agencies of international bodies in other parts of the world. The Narcotics Bureau plays a major part in the overall campaign conducted by Government to deal with this serious problem.

139. During the year the Force as a whole continued its anti- narcotics drive and in order to maintain constant pressure against illicit distributors, peddlers and consumers of drugs, Hong Kong and Kowloon Districts formed two special squads from their own resources. The work of these squads was supplemented by raids carried out by C.I.D. and Uniformed Branch personnel in Divisional and Sub-Divisional areas.

140. Despite the pressure which has been maintained throughout the year against the illicit traffic in narcotics the situation remains serious.

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