TNAG-0416-FCO40-462-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 173

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S.C.M.P

scamuais air mUUPERAGAS

1 MAY 1972

Cross injuctice to Hongkong

It would be foolish to claim that Hongkong is not being used by International narcotics traffickers for their nefarious trade for this is clearly evident in the large quantities of heroin, morphine and oplunį that have been seized by the Narcotics Bureau and the Preventive Service.

But to charge liongkong with being apathetically indifferent to the severity of the drug problem amounts to wanton irresponsibility to say the least.

The preposterous and unwarranted accusation comes from three members of the Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives who based their conclusions on a fact-finding tour of Asia and Europe carlier in the year.

In support of their findings, they refer to an earlier report by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives which alleged that Hongkong adopted a lax attitude towards the drug problem.

Not only is Hongkong indifferent, says the report, but appears aloof and unwilling to take suggestions from American drug experts.

The identity of these experts and the content of their suggestions are not disciosed and, strangely, there is no mention of the fact that Hongkong is co-operating with the U.S. authorities concerned in the battle against the drug menace,

As a Hongkong Government spokesman points out, "there is close liaison between British officials in Hongkong and the United States Bureau of Narcotics and dangerous drugs officials stationed here."

This very fact belies the allegation that Hongkong is reluctant to recognise the severity of the drug problem - internally and externally,

Hongkong's record of action against narcotics trafficking also belics the spurious charge that the Colony is reluctant to prosecute violators of the drug laws.

Hongkong's statistics, which are open to all to scrutinise, speak for themselves and are incontrovertible testimony to the seriousness that the Colony attaches to the problem of narcotics.

While the probability exists that drugs are finding their way to American servicemen in West Germany from other places in this region, the possibility of Hongkong being involved cannot of course be ruled out.

Hongkong is an international communications hub, making it an ideal distribution centre for traffickers.

Even the United States with all its resources cannot effectively halt smuggling of narcotics into and out of the country.

But, the public record of Hongkong, which the three U.S. Congressmen conveniently ignore,

demonstrates the unchallengeable fact that the

Colony is doing its best in dealing with the drug

menace.

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