L M Davies Esq CNG OBE Secretary for Security Government Secretariat HONG KONG
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11 February 1977
DRUGS: PS BY MR FRANK HOOLEY MP
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1. Tim David spoke to you on the telephone on 7 February about the information you supplied for Mr Frank Hooley's Question about the number of persons arrested and prosecuted in 1974-76 for involvement in the illicit export of opium/heroin from Hong Kong (paragraph (1) in your telegram no. 136 of 7 February). As a result, we submitted a draft reply which gave details of the number of persons arrested while attempting to leave Hong Kong in possession of opium as well as heroin and subsequently prosecuted.
2. In the event, the view taken higher up in the Office was that the information we were giving Mr Hodey did not fully answer his question. The figures for the number of persons arrested and prosecuted for involvement in the illicit export of drugs would presumably have to include both persons operating within Hong Kong itself as well as those seeking to leave it in pursuit of the trade. In other words, as we saw it, we would have needed to provide figures, if they were available, both for those arrested and prosecuted for operating the illicit trade within Hong Kong and for seeking to extend it outside of Hong Kong. decided to overcome this difficulty by means of a draft reply which stated that full information was not immediately available to answer Mr Hooley's Question, but that the number of persons arrested etc was as given in your telegram under reference. Ministers accepted a reply in these terms and Mr Hooley has not specifically been promised fuller information. It is, however,
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possible that he may revert to the matter and if you do have figures available for the number of persons arrested and prosecuted in 1974-76 for involvement, in whatever way, in the illicit export of opium/heroin, we should be glad to have them.
3. I am taking the opportunity to enclose the relevant extract from Hansard for 8 February containing Mr Luard's replies to Mr Hooley's
CONFIDENTIAL
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