ENG-1964 — Page 177

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LAW, order and records

has decreased. Moreover if Hong Kong's serious crime figures are related to population and the very large increase since 1959, the incidence of crime has actually been reduced by almost a half.

The most prevalent offences have been those against property, among which burglaries, breakings, robberies and larcenies from the person, have shown an increase. (Crime statistics are shown at Appendix XXXIII). The majority of these offences are committed either by small groups of habitual criminals, the majority of whom are known to the police, or by persons in the lowest social and economic circumstances who are also frequently addicted to nar- cotics.

The great majority of all crime in Hong Kong derives in one way or another from narcotics. It is impossible to say by how much a reduction of drug addiction would reduce the general crime rate but it would certainly make a real difference. The whole field of drug addiction, from law enforcement to public education and medical treatment was discussed at a week-long seminar in Octo- ber. The seminar was sponsored by the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society and attended by representatives of many voluntary agencies whose work involves them with drug addicts or the social con- sequences of addiction. Senior officers of eight government depart- ments concerned with various aspects of action against narcotics traffic and drug addiction also took part in the seminar. The entirely free exchange of information and opinions which took place at these meetings led to a number of constructive recommendations for future action including improved co-ordination of all the agencies involved. The resolutions and recommendations of the seminar have been referred to Government's Narcotics Advisory Committee, a body which meets regularly to review policy and which consists of unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs who had attended the seminar in that capacity. Among the subjects which the committee are studying and which were also discussed at the seminar is the adequacy of legal powers and penalties.

Police action against narcotics during the year was relatively suc- cessful. The amount of drugs seized was encouraging, and is estimated to have deprived traffickers of $3,401,600 income, so this, coupled with several successful prosecutions against large drug peddling syndi- cates, and the breaking up of five clandestine laboratories, although