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U.S. involvement at every level of the GVN over the last 10 years, any participation in the drug trade by high Vietnamese officials would have become known and would have been reported to appropriate U.S. and South Vietnamese officials.
HONG KONG
The British Crown Colony of IIong Kong plays a significant role in the trafficking of narcotics originating in Southeast Asia's "Golden Triangle". Its large (150,000 est.) addict population provides a lucra- tive market for the "Triangle" opiates. It is a primary source of the indispensable "chemists" who transform raw opium into morphine base and heroin in the laboratories in and around Tachilek and else- where in the triborder area. Its well-organized, secretive, criminally- oriented groups such as exist in the Ch'ao Chu ethnic community, pro- vide the brains and banking required to operate a sophisticated nar- cotics trafficking ring. As a widely-used, international free port, it provides the trafficker an excellent point for transshipment of heroin and other opiates to their ultimate destinations, including the United States.
Given Hong Kong's pivotal position in the Southeast Asia connec- tion, it follows that United States efforts to curb trafficking from the triborder area should give high priority to the Crown Colony. Al- though the United States Government has stationed BNDD and customs agents in Hong Kong and has directed the entire U.S. Mission there to give high priority to the narcotics problem, there are some problems and deficiencies which require attention.
UNITED STATES-HONG KONG COOPERATION
Through representation in the United States Mission by BNDD and Customs Agents, the United States Government maintains a liai- son with its counterparts in the Hong Kong Government. In compari- son with the counterparts in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, the ex- change in Hong Kong is far more formal and United States agents do not work as closely with their Hong Kong counterparts as they do in Southeast Asia. This situation is due in part to the traditional British attitude which holds that they, the British, know how to do the job and require no external assistance in carrying it out.
While the Hong Kong authorities eschew outside help, they have, in recent actions, reflected a greater concern over the drug problem. The creation of the new position of Commissioner of Narcotics was an- nounced in June 1972. The Commissioner will serve under the Secre- tary for Home Affairs and be responsible for coordinating police, cus- toms, and prison and medical programs concerned with narcotics. The post of Commissioner of Narcotics will provide the Hong Kong Gov- ernment for the first time with a senior official who will devote his full time to coordinating efforts in the narcotics field. The new Commis- sioner, N. G. Rolph, is a highly respected police officer who was Deputy Commissioner of Police prior to his appointment.
Indicative of the differences in the attitudes of U.S. and Hong Kong authorities toward the drug problem is the new Commissioner's opinion of the United States Government's World Opium Survey. 1972.