TNAG-0415-FCO40-461-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 86

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Government approval. Furthermore the recent exchange of visits to Rangoon and Bangkok of the Thai Deputy Foreign Minister and the Burmese Foreign Minister respectively may do something to ease the poor state of relations which have existed between the two countries for some time, but not too much should be expected. Burmese-Thai animosities are deep stretching back into history. But if some progress can be made over border delineation, the curbing of illicit arms trafficking from Thailand into Burma and the several difficulties which the Thai harbouring of U Nu create for Burma then this exchange will have served a useful purpose. To a greater or lesser degree these three issues impinge on the opium trade one way or another. That Burma should oppose recently the creation of a Far East Ad Hoc Committee of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs was disappointing but not unexpected in view of its policy of minimal international involvement and not wishing to be associated with what it would regard as a pressure

group.

7.

My visit to Burma served to confirm amply the very great difficulties and complexities which face the Government of that country and the international community in their desire to put an end to opium poppy growing and illicit drug trafficking for the international markets which were outlined in paper two 'International Considerations'.

H.M. Ambassador, Rangoon, is firmly of the opinion that to take a strong line with the Burmese Government about illicit drug trafficking, or to present a formal note, would be resented by the Burmese, would probably be interpreted as showing a boorish lack of understanding of Burma's intractable difficulties in the narcotics field causing the Government to 'lose face' a major sin in Burma - and would almost certainly be regarded as a clumsy British attempt in collusion with the Americans to gang up on them. Such an approach would be counterproductive based on past experience and could well nullify the cautious responses Burma is now making to the United Nations and the International Narcotics Control Board, and its endeavours to ease tensions with Thailand. The Americans have tried the heavy hand and failed abysmally putting the clock back considerably by so doing, an unfortunate state of affairs only now being erased.

9.

In the circumstances in which Burma finds itself today, an informal low-key approach of understanding and encouragement to the Government in Rangoon in its endeavours to come to grips with its illicit opium problems appears the line likely to make the most productive impression. No positive result in terms of increased action at ground level is to be anticipated from any representation made at this time, but nevertheless it is considered that nothing is to be lost by making the Burmese Government aware of the seriousness of Hong Kong's drug problem. H.M. Ambassador,

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