SMUGGLING METHODS IN THE HONG KONG-MACAO AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001300220007-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: May 29, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2004/02/13 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001300220007-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Hong Kong/Maoao
SUBJECT Smuggling Methods in the
Hong Kong-Macao Area
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DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
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This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its tr&nsmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
29 May 1953
NO. OF PAGES 3
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
NS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. In late 1952 smugglers bringing cargoes into Macao had to pay a bribe to
the police on the Macao wharves in order to land their cargoes in Macao.
Goods;were::smuggled on the regular steamers, and the process involved the
following series of transactions:
ao Coolies who worked on the Macao docks and knew the details of handling
illicit cargoes usually acted as liaison negotiators for the smugglers,
arranging terms with the Macao water police and the Macao police
inspector on the docks. These coolies were all members of the Lien I
Association, an underworld society in Maoao.1
b. Payment of the bribe, at the rate of HK ,150 for each basket unloaded,
was made by the smugglers.
o. The illicit cargoes were delivered by the coolies to the clients, most
of whom were operators of Ittwo?peroent outfits", who tobk_:orders from
dealers who had large orders, or directly from. Chinese Communist
agenoies0.;r,;2'hese firms then parceled out tmalleVa;ez'dders to petty
smugglers, thereby earning a middleman's profit of two percent or more.2
5.. Goods smuggled by the regular steamers were light articles, such as motor
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STATE I X1 ARMY 7C NAVY X AIR, x 01T
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spare parts, electric tools, and radio apparatus. Prices of these goods
the rates charged for smuggling them were as follows in December 1952:
Commodity
Smuggling Fees
Cost in Hong Kong
Motor carburetors
17 percent
HK $140 each
Motor brake leather
12 percent
Motor piston rings
12 percent
Ball bearings
20 percent
HK $350 each
Motor spark plugs
12 percent
HKK $4 each
Electric drills (3/4")
17 percent
HK $350 eaoh5
Electric drill points
14 percent
HK $8 per dozen
Saw blades
18 percent
HK $18 per dozen
Wire recorders
14 percent
HK $7,000 each
and
6. Metals and hardware were usually smuggled from Hong Kong to Macao on motor
junks and fishing boats. The December 1952 prices for these materials, and
the fees for smuggling them, were as follows.-16
Commodity
Tin plates
Zinc sheets
Iron sheets
Cut steel plates
Wax
Brass strips
Mild steel plates
Galvanized iron pipes
High-speed steel tool
bits (3/4-inch)
Comments
Smuggling Fees
70 peroent`7
85 percent
90 percent
100 percent
60 percent
50 percent
90 percent
85 percent
25 percent
Cc st in Hong Kong
IN $2,300 per ton
HK $1,600 per ton
HK $1,100 per ton
IN $500 per ton
HK $1,400 per ton
HK $6,000 per ton
HK $1,500 per ton
HK $500 per dozen
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Daily Commodity Quotations, published in Hong Kong on 31 December 1952,
listed Austrian 3/4-inch electric drills at HK $480 per set.
6,. Prices quoted in Daily Commodity quotations for 30 and 31 December 1952
include the following:
Tin plate (per P00-lb ,case) (English) HK $132 (American) $K-$170
Zino sheets (per pioul) (European) HE $170 to $240
Iron sheets (per_ potthd) HK $0.70 to 0.75
Mild steel plate cuttings (per pioul) (old).'HK $25 to $25 (new) ML $37
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Brass strips (per ioul)
Mild steel plates per pioul)
High-speed steel tool bits (per dozen)
3/4-inoh, British made
HK $365 to J510
HK $66 to 490
HK $490
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