FRIORITY CYPHER CAT/A
GPS 200
FM F C 0 261838Z
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL ECLIPSE
HICK 19/3
(HKIOD)
COPY
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 411 OF 26 APRIL 73
INFO WASHINGTON.
L
NARCOTICS.
52
*
U.S. EMBASSY HERE HAVE SHOWN US IN CONFIDENCE A TELEGRAM ABOUT
A REPORT BY CONGRESSMEN FREY KYROS AND HASTINGS DUE TO BE ISSUED
ON 25 OR 26 APRIL, REPORT IS SAID TO BE CRITICAL OF HONG KONG
COVERNMENT AND H.M.G. IT CONTAINS FOLLOWING PASSAGES: THE BRITISH
IN HONG KONG ARE ALSO RELUCTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE
PROBLEM.....EVEN WHEN THEY ADMIT THE SERIOUSNESS OF CURRENT TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS, THEY PUT THE BLAME ON LONDON.'' THE REPORT ALLEGES THAT NARCOTIC ENFORECEMENT EFFORTS IN HONG KONG ARE A ONE
MAN JOB AND THAT THE COMPLETION OF ROLFE'S REPORT IS AS LEAST
ONE YEAR OFF.
2. THE EMBASSY SAY THAT THEIR CONSULATE IN HONG KONG HAVE OBTAINED AUTHORITY FROM WASHINGTON TO TAKE A ROBUST LINE WITH THE PRESS,
EMPHASISING THEIR CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH YOUR AUTHORITIES. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONSULATE INTEND TO BRIEF ROLFE. WE HAVE ALSO
EXPLAINED THE REAL SITUATION TO THE EMBASSY AND HAVE ARRANGED A MORE
FORMAL BRIEFING FOR THEM EARLY NEXT WEEK.
3. IF NEWS DEPARTMENT ARE ASKED ABOUT THE REPORT THEY WILL SAY THAT
ON THE CONTRARY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND H.M.G. ARE VERY ACTIVE IN TACKLING THIS ADMITTEDLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. BUT IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY
BE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF OUR MEASURES IN
PUBLIC.
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