WHICH ARE THE SOURCE OF DRUGS ENTERING HONG KONG. SECONDLY, THE NARCOTICS BUREAU HAS BEEN RECONSTRUCTED AND ITS PRIORITIES REASSESSED. THESE MEASURES HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED OUTSTANDING SUCCESSES IN 1974. UP TO THE PRESENT 4508 KGS OF OPIUM PRODUCTS WITH A RETAIL VALUE OF HONG KONG DOLLARS 71.4 MILLION HAVE BEEN SEIZED AND 5 HEROIN REFINERIES HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. DRUGS ARE NOW IN SHORT SUPPLY IN HONG KONG AND PRICES ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL EVER. GOOD PROGRESS HAS ALSO BEEN MADE IN BREAKING UP DRUG SYNDICATES AND THIS PRESSURE WILL BE CONTINUED. THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (A.C.A.N.) WILL SHORTLY BE CONSIDERING PLANS TO INCREASE DRUG TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES, TO ENABLE THEM TO HANDLE ABOUT 15,000 ADDICTS EACH YEAR AND BY 1980 THEIR CAPACITY SHOULD BE IN THE VICINITY OF 35,000. INCREASED EMPHASIS IS ALSO BEING PLACED ON PUBLIC EDUCATION. THESE AND OTHER MEASURES SHOULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE ILLICIT DRUG TRADE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, UNQUOTE
(J) QUOTE IN TOTAL, HK DOLLARS 28,335 MILLION AT CURRENT MARKET
PRICES, AND, PER CAPITA, HK DOLLARS 6,811 ALSO AT CURRENT MARKET PRICES UNNQUOTE
3. CURRENT CONVERSION RATE (IF REQUIRED) IS HK DOLLARS 11.75 EQUALS ONE POUND.
4. I AM SURE THAT YOU APPRECIATE HOW UNREASONABLE.IT IS TO EXPECT DETAILED REPLIES TO SEARCHING QUESTIONS ON SUCH DERISORY NOTICE. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN AND FOR YOUR ADVICE AS TO "HOW THE SITUATION CAN BE RECTIFIED.
MACLEHOSE
{
FILES
HKIOD (4)
FED
UND
FRD
ECONOMISTS D
MVD
CONSULAR D
OLA
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
MR MALE
MR SCOTT
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON STREET W 1
MR P B RACKHAM. OVERSEAS OFFICE BANK OF ENGLAND
4
CONFIDENTIAL