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WE SHOULD ALSO BEAR IN MIND THAT HONG KONG HAS JUST EMERCED
FROM A MAJOR REVIEW OF US GSP BENEFITS IN A LARGELY FAVOURABLE
POSITION. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE HERE FOR DRUG
ENFORCEMENT HAVE EVEN DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLY OF
RELATED TRADE MEASURES WITH THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR GSP
BENEFITS. WE SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT STIRRING UP TOO MUCH
INTEREST IN SUCH A POSSIBILITY.
5. ON THE USE OF HONG KONG FOR LAUNDERING DRUG-RELATED MONEY,
THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONAL EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN BY THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT AND DEA, BUT THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY ISSUE, DOJ ARE MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CARIBBEAN OFFSHORE
BANKING CENTRES. THERE IS, OF COURSE, AN OUTSTANDING DOJ PROPOSAL
FOR PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE (MY
TELNO 46), BUT RECENT CONTACTS WITH RICHARD (DOJ) SUGGEST THAT
HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG MAY NOT NOW TAKE PLACE BEFORE APRIL
(THIS ALSO SUGGESTS THAT DOJ DO NOT REGARD HONG KONG AS AN
URGENT PROBLEM, AND POINTS TOWARDS CAUTION BEFORE MAKING ANY
OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIONS).
ACLAND
YYYY
JR:BAN 9938
LIMITED
HKD
NAD
NCAU
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
SIR D. WILSON
ERD (Street) Leg Air (fifort),
D
4/3
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Confidential