TNAG-0415-FCO40-461-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 11

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER CAT A

GRPS 183

FROM BANGKOK

CONFIDENTIAL

100947Z MAY '73

TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 170 OF 10 MAY 73 INFO TO

HONG KONG RANGCON AND VIENTIANE.

HONG KONG TELNO 496 AND RANGCON TELNO 58.

-67)

1. THE BANGKOK PRESS HAS INDEED BEEN FULL OF REPORTS CF THE ATTACK BY THE BURMESE ARMY ON TACHILEK BUT WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM ABSOLUTELY THAT EITHER THE TOWN ITSELF HAS BEEN TAKEN OR THAT THE HEROIN FACTORIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, BOTH HOWEVER SEEM VERY LIKELY.

2. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT ABOUT A FORTNIGHT AGO THE BURMESE ARMY WAS POSITIONING ITSELF FOR AN ATTACK ON TACHILEK AND THAT IT WAS THE VIEW OF THE THAIS THAT THE THAT THE BURMESE HAD

SUFFICIENT FORCES AVAILABLE TO TAKE THE TOWN.

3. THERE HAS CLEARLY BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF FIGHTING IN THE AREAS OF BURMA CLOSE TO THE NORTH EAST FRONTIERWITH THAILAND AND CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES AND/OR IRREGULAR FORCES IN RETREAT HAVE ENTERED

THAILAND.

4. WE ARE CONTINUING OUR ENQUIRIES AND EXPECT A REPORT FROM THE ACTING CONSUL IN CHIANG MAI DURING NEXT WEEK. WE WILL REPORT AGAIN AS SOON AS WE HAVE FURTHER NEWS.

DE LA MARE

FILES

HKIOD

SEAD

N. AM DEPT:

UND

NEWS DEPT:

68

JKK 193

CONFIDENTIAL

1