Plague of drug pushers operating openly in Hong Kong's nightlife areas 'blighting city's image'
Blatant sale of illegal drugs in entertainment districts alarms business owners, but police insist they are fully enforcing narcotics laws
Increasingly blatant drug-pushing in some of Hong Kong's most popular nightlife districts has been slammed as a blight on the city's image and a danger to youngsters.
Business owners say that despite police assurances they are on top of the problem, people who work, live and visit parts of Central - such as Lan Kwai Fong and Wyndham Street - and Wan Chai believe that an increasing number of people selling drugs has created an intimidating atmosphere in parts of the city popular with revellers.
Police say they carry out regular overt and covert operations and have made many arrests in recent months.
However, businessman Francis Kirby, who has lived in the city for seven years, contacted the Post to say drug dealers seemed to be operating with impunity.
"They are lined up like ducks in a shooting gallery. There is a whole air of impunity about it," said Kirby, who visited Lan Kwai Fong for the first time in a number of years.
"It's so blatant, so obvious. I was absolutely shocked by it. I find it intimidating.