Police-1965-1966 — Page 38

1963-64 1964-65 1965-66

lb.

lb.

lb.

Raw Opium

1,874

5,820

4,576

Prepared Opium

98

106

59

Morphine and Morphine

hydrochloride

172

599

189

Heroin (Diacetylmorphine

hydrochloride)

193

136

24

439

161

121

Barbitone

110. Despite police action against offenders on this vast scale, drug addiction in the Colony shows little sign of diminishing. Surveys are being conducted in an attempt to assess the relative proportion of initiates in the consumption of narcotics; it is believed that corre- spondingly fewer young persons are seeking to indulge in the con- sumption of opium and heroin, but it will take some time, perhaps several years, before firm conclusions can be drawn.

111. The majority of narcotic drug pedlars are addicts themselves and thus the range of drugs used by addicts tends to remain constant. There is no evidence of widespread use in Hong Kong of 'pep pills' and other amphetamines, which are currently causing so much concern in Europe and elsewhere, but this is a source of danger which may present a serious challenge as the campaign against the narcotics used at present becomes more effective.

TRIAD SOCIETY BUREAU

112. The Triad Society Bureau is a branch of the C.I.D. at Police Headquarters, established specifically for the closer control of triad society activities and the detection of offences which directly or in- directly are related to triad influences.

113. Triad gang activities include the promotion of street gambling, prostitution, high interest money lending, obscene film shows, the dis- tribution of narcotics at consumer level and extortion in all its forms.

114. The pattern of triad society organization has changed in that there is considerably less evidence of cohesion among the various societies. Members tend to operate as individuals or in small groups, relying on threats of force and the traditional fear of the Triads as the source of their power. To meet these circumstances it has been made an offence for a person to claim or profess membership of a triad society.

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