ENG-1981 — Page 187

PUBLIC ORDER

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in Hong Kong fell across the board. By June it was known that much of the record crop some 612 to 663 tonnes of opium was being refined into heroin base (esters of morphine about 70 per cent pure) at illicit drug manufacturing camps in the hills of the Golden Triangle. This easily transportable drug was then imported illegally by sea and air in plentiful quantities. An increasingly popular, but dangerous method used by air couriers for importing drugs was to fill prophylactic sheaths with their consignment and conceal them internally within the body.

The retail price of the average street-level packet of No. 3 heroin dropped by 70.7 per cent over the previous year's prices. However, it was encouraging that this downward trend had no adverse effect on the Methadone Treatment Programme for drug addicts. Total prosecutions for drug offences were 36.6 per cent up on the 1980 figure.

However, in 1981 there was an increase in the involvement of young people in dangerous drugs with 8.8 per cent of all prosecutions being under 20 years of age compared with 5.3 per cent for the same age group the previous year. Although in June, the Narcotics Bureau neutralised a cannabis packing and distribution centre - the first since 1972 – indications are that cannabis is not widely used in Hong Kong.

Criminal Records

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Computerisation of the Nominal Index System of the Criminal Records Bureau continued and a contract for all the equipment needed was awarded in June. The system is expected to be fully operational by 1983.

Interpol

Hong Kong is a member of the International Criminal Police Organisation (I.C.P.O. – Interpol), the headquarters of which is in St Cloud, near Paris, France.

The Hong Kong Interpol Bureau operates within the Criminal Investigation Department and renders assistance to, and seeks assistance from police forces in 135 countries. The bureau also deals with extradition matters, to and from Hong Kong.

It deals with over 20 requests a day and has its own small investigation unit.

Crime Prevention

As a result of an increase in establishment in 1980, the Crime Prevention Bureau was able to adopt a more active role by visiting factories, businesses, shops, supermarkets and private homes to advise on how people can help themselves reduce crime. The bureau's permanent exhibition of crime prevention equipment continued to prove popular, attracting about 5 000 visitors during the year.

Illegal Immigration

The force commitment in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants remained high although the abolition of the 'reached base' policy saw a dramatic decrease in the number of people trying to enter illegally from China. Legislation made it mandatory for all residents to carry proof of identity at all times and it also became an offence for an employer to employ a per- son who had no identity card. Nevertheless, it remains necessary for the force to maintain a constant vigilance at all times as there are indications that substantial numbers would still come to Hong Kong if there was any opportunity to do so. During the year 7 556 illegal immigrants from China and Macau were arrested and repatriated, against 82 125 for 1980.

There has been some change in the pattern of illegal immigration following the change of policy. Far fewer attempted to enter and the year saw the development of small syndicated