XN000022-1973-10-17 — Page 76

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Wednesday, October 17, 1973

Action on any one of these fronts assiste action on others. For

instance, if shipments are intercepted and the price of the drug rises, it is a

strong inducement to an addict to seek a cure. But equally failure on any

front undermines success on others. Thus improved treatment of drug addiction

could do little in the face of an abundant and cheap supply of drugs. Nor would interruption of the seaborne traffic have much effect if abundance of

production in the Golden Triangle and a strong demand in Hong Kong remained

an open invitation to traffickers to bridge the gap.

As I see it we must now work to achieve progress on all four fronts,

while making our own major effort on those within our own jurisdiction.

I said last year that the first step towards the formulation of

a coherent and forceful policy was the appointment of a single senior officer, the Commissioner for Narcotics, to coordinate all aspects of this

problem which are handled by so many different government departments and voluntary agencies. Over the last year his work has largely been investigatory

and preparatory, critically examining what is being done in each of these

fields and with what results. This phase is nearly completed, and the threade

are now being drawn together in recommendations for action which are progressively coming forward. When approved these will be embodied in a White Paper to be

published about the end of this year.

One docision already taken is to second a Liaison Officer to the

staff of E.li. Ambassador at Bangkok, with of course the full agreement of

the Thai Government. He will take up his duties next month. This follows

visits by the Commissioner to Burma, Lacs and Thailand earlier this year.

/Another relates

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