TNAG-0416-FCO40-462-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 139

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Bar estabil

HK+10D

CONFIDENTIAL

11 Akion ame

Conesunde

A Hennung N Michael

clot2100

Mixe

М

Cones de hord of Kuhkittmit?

BRITISH EMBASSY,

RANGOON.

17 May 1972

85

امت

OW Squire Esq IVO

SEAD

TCO

Dear Bill,

MARCOTIOS

1

I have et leet hed the opportunity for which I have been waiting to dove a talk about marcctics with the officiel rimarily concerned in the 1., U Pyl Soe (Director of the UN and Economic Department). Ho had told me ourlier that he ha held un submission to the Cabinet of the proposel for a Ull pilot scheme here because of the un- fortunate Thai helicopter incident which he felt mede the atmosphere uiroviticus. However, ho now tells me that the Curmese Coverment heve azrced in rinciele to cocoot UN assistance and all that How remeing to be settled is the details.

·

2 I took the opportunity to say that, although wo had not postored him with official reprosentetichu boccuse we were well e re of the Burmese Covern.cnt's. difficulties and the stops they were taking to do:1 with them, this as he now did not mean that C were not very much concerned to see the problem of the narcotics traffic resolved. This was not only because of its worrying consequences in Britain itself, but also becauso of the very serious problem being faced by the authorities in Hong Kong, where much of the narcotics derived from opium grown in Bure. He took the oint. In the course of our diccussion he mentioned the gre.t difficulty blo Sumiose hed in getting reliable information about the traffic; the Americans provided a lot of Information but it eu frequently insufficiently Dopcific as regardy pl.cces and people for them to take action. I sold thLLC I WC Lure that the Kong authorities would also be very willing to

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