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HE SAID HE HAD ALSO HEARD THAT ARMS WERE SMUGGLED DIRECTLY TO HONG
KONG FROM THAILAND AND VIETNAM. LIU BLAMED THE IMPORTATION OF WEAPONS INTO HONG KONG MAINLY ON HONG KONG CRIMINAL ELEMENTS WHO
CROSSED INTO CHINA TO PURCHASE WEAPONS. HE ALSO SAID THAT A BIG PROBLEM WAS TRIADS PAYING MAINLANDERS TO SMUGGLE IN WEAPONS AND COMMIT ARMED ROBBERY AND MURDER IN HONG KONG BEFORE RETURNING TO THE MAINLAND. THIS CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR THE RHKP WHO RARELY HAD
EVIDENCE TO ARREST THE TRIAD PAYMASTERS.
4. LIU SAID THAT COMBATTING FIREARMS SMUGGLING WAS AN URGENT
PRIORITY FOR THE PSB AND THEY WERE STRENGTHENING THEIR EFFORTS.
THOUGHT THE NORMALISATION OF RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM WOULD HELP INTERDICT THE FLOW OF WEAPONS, BUT ACCEPTED THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY ALREADY STOCKPILES IN SOUTH CHINA.
5. I AM COPYING THIS TELELETTER TO M V STONE, HKD, FCO.
S JA BROOKING
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