03160 G.F. 316
SECRET 高度機密 ECLIPSE
From:
Commissioner for Narcotics
Ref:
(1) in SEA 51/76/98/s
Tel. No. 5-457728
Date: 23rd January 1973
SECRET AND GUARD
To: Political Adviser (3)
1.
Illicit Opium Trafficking from Burma
On the 20th December, 1972 I was approached in Hong Kong by a Yunnanese gentleman whom I have known on and off for a number of years.
He told me that LAW Sing-hon, sometimes known as LO Hsing-han, who is the principal trafficker in illicit opium and its derivatives in the region of Burma adjacent to Laos and Thailand and who controls the area, had contacted him in the Colony by courier. The courier produced the original of Document 'A' attached which purports to be a history of the opium trade in that part of Burma under LAW Sing-hon's control and the involvement of ex-Kwomintang troops in the protection of that trade. These irregulars, mostly Yunnanese, I understand form a part of the Burma Self-Defence Force notwithstanding that Rangoon is unable to exercise any control over them. The courier is reported to have produced a personal letter from LAW Sing-hon to my informant (which I do not have) to the effect that LAW wished to get out of the opium business and asking my informant to arrange a meeting with the Americans on the Thai- Burma border to see what could be done to this end. My informant contacted the American Consulate-General in Hong Kong as a result which instructions were sought from Washington. After due consideration the Americans decided to pursue the matter. about the 20th December, 1972 my informant left for Thailand together with a member of the C.I.A. (Edwards) and Mr. R.J. Furey of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs stationed in Hong Kong. There may have been others.
of
On or
2.
During the period between the 23rd December, 1972 and the 3rd January, 1973 my informant and the Americans met with LAW Sing-hon's representatives and with LAW Sing-hon himself at Mai Sai on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border opposite Tachilek. In addition my informant crossed into Burma alone on one occasion and had dinner with LAW Sing-hon in Tachilek. There are apparently no less than 24 opium refining 'factories' in Tachilek.
3.
At the initial meetings the Americans were concerned primarily with establishing positively the identity of LAW Sing- hon and that the person purporting to be LAW was in fact LAW. This was done by a comparison of photographs and LAW Sing-hon's official chop. Eventually the Americans were satisfied.
SECRET 高度機密