TNAG-0416-FCO40-462-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 156

GR 350 PRIORITY

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HKK14/3

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FA FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 1718332 HKLILIA

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1973

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO. 490 OF 17 MAY INFO ROUTINE

TO WASHINGTON AND UKMIS GENEVA AND SAVING TO BANGKOK VIENTIANE

AND RANGOON.

NARCOTICS.

1. BAAS OF THE US EMBASSY CALLED ON US ON 17 MAY, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY CALLED ON THE HOME OFFICE, HE SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO PROPOSE A MEETING ON NARCOTICS IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN HONG KONG DETJEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS. THE MEETING MIGHT TAKE THE FORM OF A STUDY GROUP AND DIRECT ITS ATTENTION TO SPECIFIC PROBLEMS, MAINLY CONCERNING ENFORCEMENT, US AMBASSADORS IN BANGKOK, VIENTIANE, AND RANGOON HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND HAD SUGGESTED THAT SUBJECTS MIGHT

INCLUDE ELIMINATION OF THE HEROIN REFINERIES IN HONG KONG: IDENTIFICATION AND PENETRATION OF CHINESE DRUG SYNDICATES IN HONG KONG: AND THE THE TRAWLER PROBLEM. THE STATE DEPARTMENT THOUGHT

THAT THESE SUGGESTED SUBJECTS HAD MERIT. THE MEETING SHOULD BE INFO

INFORMAL. IT SHOULD NOT IN ANY WAY CROSS WIRES WITH THE UNITED NA

NATIONS AD HOC COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS AND SHOULD BE KEPT IN LOW KEY

IN ORDER TO AVOID PROVOKING PEKING. IF WE AGREED, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO SEND INGERSOLL, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS, TO HONG KONG FOR THE MEETING FROM 4 TO 6 JUNE. THE AMERICANS HOPED THAT ROLPH WOULD BE AMONGST THE HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES. THEY ALSO HOPED THAT H M G WOULD SEND

REPRESENTATIVES.

2. WE SAID THAT WE WOULD OF COURSE HAVE TO CONSULT YOU BEFORE GIVING A SUBSTANTIVE REPLY. TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL, WOULD HELP TO REMOVE CRITICIONS (Y TELEGRAMI NO. 411) OF LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE AMERICANS OVER MARCOTICS IN HONG KONG BY BOTH THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT AND H M G. WE SHOULD BE INCLINED TO WELCOME THEM.

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