XN000022-1977-01-03 — Page 3

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MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1977

DUTCH MINISTER TO HOLD TALKS HERE ON PROBLEM OF DRUG TRAFFICKING

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THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF THE NETHERLANDS, MR. A.A.M. VAN AGT, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON WEDNESDAY (JANÚARY 5) FOR A FOUR- DAY VISIT ON HIS WAY TO BANGKOK FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE THAI GOVERNMENT ON THE PROBLEM OF DRUG TRAFFICKING FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE VIA THAILAND TO HOLLAND.

MR. VAN AGT HAS EXPRESSED PARTICULAR INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMBATTING ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING AS WELL AS IN THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS.

DURING HIS STAY, HE WILL HAVE TALKS WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CONCERNED WITH ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICIES. HE WILL ALSO VISIT VARIOUS ADDICTION TREATMENT ESTABLISHMENTS TO SEE HONG KONG'S TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR HIMSELF.

IT IS HOPED THAT THE VISIT BY MR. VAN AGT, WHO IS THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DUTCH POLICE FORCE, WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF HONG KONG AND HOLLAND ON THE INTERDICTION OF INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING.

MR. VAN AGT WILL LEAVE ON JANUARY 9 FOR BANGKOK WHERE HE WILL SEEK AGREEMENT WITH THE THAI AUTHORITIES ON THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND OTHER MEANS OF INTERCEPTING THE FLOW OF NARCOTICS FROM THAILAND TO HOLLAND.

ACCOMPANYING MR. VAN AGT ON HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG WILL BE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF THE NETHERLANDS, MR. A.J. FONTEIJN.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

MR. VAN AGT WILL NOT BE PREPARED TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, THOSE WHO WISH TO PHOTOGRAPH HIS ARRIVAL CAN DO SO AS HE LEAVES THE V.I.P. ROOM OF THE AIRPORT. HE WILL ALSO ISSUE A SHORT STATEMENT ABOUT HIS VISIT THROUGH G.I.S.

BEFORE DEPARTURE ON JANUARY 9, MR. VAN AGT WILL ISSUE A FURTHER STATEMENT ABOUT THE RESULTS OF HIS VISIT.

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