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fully implemented, is likely to be substantially and increasingly expensive and of little value in solving the immediate and urgent problems in the region. Regarded overall, it might be as well for the experiment to be wound up (with tactful thanks to the Colombo Plan Bureau for their work and to the United States for financing it). If, however, political considerations require the Colombo Plan to continue to have a presence in this area of endeavour, or there is substantial regional support for it (with the United States backing it), and if someone can be found to finance the continued activity, then a very careful look should be taken by experts in this field at the proper role for the Colombo Flan in drug abuse control in the region, having regard to the already existing activities of the United Nations. In particular, the Colombo Plan should be dissuaded from Turther intervention in the law enforcement field.
9.
United Kingdom Interest
The United Kingdom interest in this matter stems directly from its responsibility for Hong Kong, which is one of the major victims of the opium traffic in the Far East; from its own concern to see a diminution of that traffic, with its "spin off" or illicit heroin for the United Kingdom market, and of the traffic in cannabis and cannabis resin from the Middle East (in particular, from Pakistan and Afghanistan). As a matter of policy we would prefer to support the United Nations' effort in the region which is covered by the Colombo Flan, because the UN has developed a staff with the proper expertise, has prepared the ground, and has some resources to tackle the multi-faceted problems involved.
10.
seek
Instructions to UK Delegation
In the light of the above considerations, the United Kingdom delcgation should
(a) if possible, to secure the winding up of the Colombo Plan involvement in drug abuse control in the region. To this end, reference might be made to the overlap between the Drug Adviser's past and future programme with the work of the United Nations Sub-Commission for the Near and hiddle East, the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee for the Far East, and the proposed UN regional liaison officer for the Far East. Attention might also be drawn to the expense of financing conferences, workshops, study tours etc. of the type envisaged by the Drug Adviser, and he might be invited to indicate the size of the budget necessary to give effect to his programme for the coming year (having regard to the cost of the conference in Bangkok) and to justify it on a cost/benefit basis. Information might also be solicited on the likely cost both in manpower and resources of establishing a regional information centre and of a systematic analysis of documentation, ដន proposed in paragraph 32(vii) and (viii). Again, reference could be made to the fact that the United Nations already circulates legislative material. The essential question to be raised is whether Member States consider the cost worth the results in the light of the activities of the United Nations. It should be made clear that the United Kingdom is not in a position to offer finance in this direction and that the United Kingdom's support is likely to remain with the United Nations.
(b) If it is clear that this approach does not have the favour of the majority of the member countries, particularly the regional members and the United States, and if someone is willing to finance the Drug Adviser, the United kingdom should suggest, without getting into a discussion of detail, that the Drug Adviser's programme for the future needs further careful scrutiny by drug abuse experts, in consultation, in particular, with the UN Division of Narcotics, so that a programme can be devised which will (i) not overlap with the activities of others, and (ii) will
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