CONFIDENTIAL
6)
25.8/494/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
TELNO MISC 033
OF 12070OZ JANUARY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
FINAL PART OF TWO
157046
MOHIAN 8287
pre p.a.
AMIZ
7.
COOPERATION WITH THE US GOVERNMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
HONG KONG'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES COOPERATE CLOSELY AND EFFECTIVELY WITH THE US DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA), FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI), US CUSTOMS, INTERPOL WASHINGTON, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY POLICE FORCES. SUCH COOPERATION ENCOMPASSES THE FOLLOWING SPHERES OF WORK:
(A) RESPONDING TO REQUESTS FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION OR MATERIAL
THE HONG KONG AGENCIES ALWAYS RESPOND POSITIVELY TO SUCH REQUESTS, WHICH RANGE FROM STRAIGHTWARD ENQUIRIES ON CRIMINAL RECORDS, VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS, AND CHECKING OF TELEPHONE SUBSCRIPTION AND CALL RECORDS, TO IDENTIFICATION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY SUSPECTS AND LONGER TERM INVESTIGATIONS, APPLICATIONS FOR SEARCH WARRANTS AND SEARCHING OF BANK ACCOUNTS. IN 1987 THE HONG KONG AGENCIES RECEIVED AND DEALT WITH 225 SUCH REQUESTS FROM US AGENCIES.
(B)
EXCHANGING INFORMATION IN INVESTIGATIONS
THERE IS A CONSTRUCTIVE AND UNRESTRAINED EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION WHERE COMMON INTERESTS EXIST. THIS IS USEFUL AND BENEFICIAL TO BOTH SIDES IN ACQUIRING INTELLIGENCE IN DRUG TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATIONS. SUCH EXCHANGES HAVE FREQUENTLY RESULTED IN ARRESTS AND SEIZURES.
(C)
CONDUCTING JOINT OPERATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SUCCESSFUL HONG KONG-US JOINT OPERATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS SUCH JOINT ACTIONS BROUGHT ABOUT THE DISMANTLING OF TWO DRUG TRAFFICKING
1
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