TNAG-0415-FCO40-461-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 127

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RECORD OF A MEETING HELD IN THE FCO ON 12 APRIL TO DISCUSS THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN NARCOTICS AS IT AFFECTS HONG KONG AND THE PROPOSED UN AD HOC COMMITTEE ON NARCOTIC DRUGS FOR SOUTH EAST ASIA

Present:

Mr A C Stuart Mr C G Train

Mr R Kendall

(HKIOD) (Home Office

(Home Office)

Mr N Wenban-Smith (UN Department)

Mr A R Michael (SEAD)

Mr A L Wotton (HKIOD)

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1.

Mr Stuart opened the meeting by giving a brief analysis of the papers recently received from Hong Kong about the international traffic in illicit drugs as it affects Hong Kong. He mentioned the great concern being shown by the Hong Kong Government and outlined briefly the recommendations put forward by the Hong Kong Government to tackle this serious problem. Mr Stuart asked what priority HMG gave to this matter and how important was it to us in relation to the drug addiction problem in the UK. Mr Train said that at present there were substantial amounts of Chinese heroin available in London which

had originated from Hong Kong, but that the major source of drugs was still through prescriptions. The amount of drugs reaching the UK fluctuates and as yet there is no evidence of any organisations running drugs into the UK on a regular basis. There was to be a big effort in the next 6 months by the Customs and the Police to crack down even harder on the illicit traffic

in drugs. He thought that these measures should contain the problem and, therefore, at the present moment the international drug problem was of marginal interest to the UK rather than central, but of course the potential danger of an increase in drug smuggling into the UK must not be overlooked.

2. In answer to a query from Mr Stuart as to whether the Home Office needed to bring the question of Hong Kong's problem to the attention of Ministers in the Home Office, Mr Train replied that he thought Ministers were already seized of the

/seriousness

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