TNAG-0415-FCO40-461-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 54

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Amembassy Lo don

IN TELEGRAM

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

*15*NOVIAVALUESESUAIS GRAVESARI

02945

State

3070

DE RUEHC

42 19 1106749

105

ZNY CCCCC ZZK

R 1923332 APR 73

FO SECSTATE WASHDC

TO BUNJOH/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 1744 INFO BUDIC/AHEMBASSY LONDON 2444

Br

74217

RECO:

APR 20 1973

0703

n. Wotton discussed with D. Bas

PLA des

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE STATE 0742′14

E.0. 11652: N.A,

TAGS: SHAR HK

SUBJECT: NARCOTICS: FREY REPORT

3

AXK19/3

1. REPORT BY CONGRESSMEN FREY, KYROS AND HASTINGS ON NARCOTIC ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN COUNTRIES THEY VISITED JAN-FEB. 1973 TO BE ISSUED APRIL 25 OR 26,

2. ADVANCE COPY OF REPORT HAS BEEN GIVEN DEPARTMENT AND COPIES OF PAGES ABOUT HONG KONG BEING AIRPOUCHED; FULL REPORT WILL BE SENT WHEN AVAILABLE

CONCERNING HONG KONG, REPORT GAVE GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OPIATE PRICES, TREATMENT FACILITIES, TRAWLER PROBLEM AND DRUG ABUSE BY US MILITARY, FOLLOWING POINTS ARE ONES WHICH MOST STRIKING:

مزه

4, LOCAL OFFICIALS ALSO ESTIMATE THAT 4 TO 10 TONS OF HEROIN IS TRANSHIPPED FROM HONG KONG (PRIMARILY BY BODY PACK TO THE UNITED STATES ANNUALLY, BUT ACCURATE INFORMATION IS LACKING,"

"OVERALL NARCOTIC ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ARE CENTERED IN THE COMMISSION (SIC) OF NARCOTICS...FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. ROLFE, IT APPEARS THAT THE COMMISSION IS ESSENTIALLY A ONE-MAN OPERATION, HE IS PRESENTLY COMPILING A REPORT ON THE OVERALL DRUG SITUA- TION, BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC, UNTIL THE REPORT IS FINISHED, NO MAJOR CHANGES IN CURRENT ENFORCEMENT POLICIES CAN BE EXPECTED, THE COMPLETION OF THE REPORT IS AT LEAST ONE YEAR OFF. ONE QUESTIONS WHY THIS WASN'T DONE BEFORE IN VIEW OF THE LONG HISTORY IN HONG KONG OF DRUG ADDICTION.,

6,

"THE BRITISH IN HONG KONG ARE ALSO RELUCTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF NARCOTICS, AND TO, CORRESPOND- INGLY, TAKE ACTION. FOR INSTANCE, MOST OFFICIALS WE SPOKE WITH WERE 'UPTIGHT' ABOUT THE RECENT REPORT OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN LAX....EVEN WHEN THEY ADMIT THE SERIOUSNESS OF CURRENT TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS, THEY PLACE THE BLAME ON LONDON. AND IT IS CORRECT THAT WITH~ OUT A STRONG COMMITMENT FROM LONDON, DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG CANNOT BE EXPECTED,

HOS.

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

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