OPIUM DENS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1933, Page 9

OPIUM DENS

A CLEANUP UEGED

HAINING STREET PREMISES

Nine Chinese arrested early yester-i day morning in an opium den at the1

corner of Tory and Haining Streets

pleaded guilty when they appeared at y the Magistrate's Court before Mr. E. Page, S.M., to various offences under the Dangerous Drug Act. The keeper cf the premises, Willie Wong, who was discharged from prison about a fortnight ago after serving three months for keeping tho same premises when they were raided. in March last, was iinod £50. In addition, ho was fined £5 on a* charge of obstruction arising from his refusal to admit the police. In tho event of Willio Wong not paying Ills fines he will havo to serve another term of three months' imprisonment.

-:: Tho circumstances of the raid were outlined by the police. It was stated that tho barricades had not been removed from the premises after the raid in March. "*

Addressing the Court on the question

of penalty, Mr. J., Meltzer said that owing to the fact that Willie Wong had immediately gone back to his old haunts after being discharged from gaol he found it difficult to say very much in mitigation of his offence.

"The greater part of Haining Street," said Mr. Meltzer, "is literally an opium den. It is known to the jjolico that opium smoking goes on there day in and day out. It seems almost farcical that these proceedings should keep on recurring over and over again, and yet be treated each time as if they were something fresh. Ido submit that it is hardly fair to these men to allow these conditions to continue and place them in a position of temptation whero they have no opportunity to resist."

Mr. Page to counsel: What do you mean exactly?—l mean that there is power to close theso premises up. In reply to a further question by the Magistrate, Mr. Meltzer said that he could not cjuoto the statute which authorised the' closing-up of such premises as he had not had time to look it up. He ■understood,, however, that there was power to close'up such premises.

Sub-Inspector Martin said that there was provision under the Gaming Act, and the police were looking into the question.'' . '

The Magistrate .then dealt with the Chinese ■who. pleaded-guilty, to being found unlawfully on the premises. Ng Kum Tpng, Jew Lum, Ching Yum, and Ah Sue; who'had -previous convictions for similar offences, were each fined £15. The remainder, Song, Kee Shum, Chee Wong, and Ah Wong, were each fined £•12 10s. ' ■