TNAG-0414-FCO40-460-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 23

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1

Telephone 01- 930 8440 ext 89

34

C J Train Esq

Home Office

Romney House

Marsham Street London SW1

Romnery House

799 3488 Ext 274 or 2.7

AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR SOUTH EAST ASIA

1.

Your reference

Our reference

UM 45/14

Date

13 March 1973

LANT

R.F

-

37

As you know we found very useful your preliminary report on the 25th Session of the Narcotics Commission your letter DDA/72/ 1/78/11 of 13 February. We have since discussed the

main points arising out of it.

2.

One question on which you sought our view was that of representation on the ad hoc Committee for South East Asia. I think we were agreed on the desirable qualifications for this job as:

3.

(i)

an acquaintance with the illicit drug trafficking problems/patterns in South East Asia;

(ii) knowledge of the UK drug interests (including the

commercial pharmaceutical interest);

(iii)

sensitivity to political factors viz political relation- ships in South East Asia (in particular Hong Kong/China); and political aspects of drug production and trafficking in the area and the US interest in this;

(iv) some experience of the UN narcotics organisations

involved.

(v)

time to participate in the projected study tour of the

area.

We for our part could not spare anyone from the FCO, even if we had someone with the right blend of experience. We should therefore have to think of asking a retired member of the Diplomatic Service to take the job on; I daresay we could find someone with knowledge of the region and UN matters, but we would obviously have to do a good deal of boning up on the drugs scene. On the other hand if you yourself were able to take this on think that there could be a good deal of benefit all round. Clearly the elements of key and local knowledge would be helpful to you for future meetings of the Commission, particularly when it comes to making a judgment about the utility to the UK of an eventual regional Sub-Commission. I am sure that, if you thought it helpful, our geographical departments would be glad to brief you on the political background.

/4.

CONFIDENTIAL

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