TNAG-0417-FCO40-463-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 11

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CYPHER CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL.

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FM HONGKONG 260948Z

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HALIL ins 195

19731

TO ROUTINE WASHINGTON TELEGRAM NUMBER 38 OF 26 OCTOBER INFO ROUTINE F C O HONGKONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (FCO PLEASE PASS HKGOL FOR SELLERS).

FOR BARROW FROM MCGREGOR.

NARCOTICS PROVISION ADDED TO U.S. TRADE REFORM BILL.

8..

(169

U.S. CONSULATE-GENERAL HAS PASSED TO DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, WITHOUT COMMENT, THE TEXT OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL

SECTION 606 INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL) WHICH HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED. THIS PROVIDES FOR IMPOS-

ITION OF AN EMBARGO ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRADE AND INVESTMENT IF THE PRESIDENT SDETERMINES THAT A COUNTRY HAS FAILED TO TAKE ADEQUATE STEPS TO PREVENT NARCOTICS PRODUCED IN OR TRANSPORTED THROUGH IT FROM ENTERING THE U. S.

2. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF SOME CONCERN TO US IF HONG KONG WAS A FACTOR IN THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMEND- MENT. COULD YOU POSSIBLY ESTABLISH IF THIS WAS THE CASE? THERE HAVE AT TIMES BEEN DISTRESSING SIGNS THAT THERE ARE SOME ON CAPITOL HILL WHO HOLD FIRM BUT ILL FOUNDED BELIEF THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN DERELICT IN ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE NARCOTICS TRADE. IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF ANY MANIFESTATIONS

OF SUCH VIEWS COULD BE CONVEYED TO US AND IF SUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

COULD BE TAKEN TO COUNTER THEM. WE SHALL BE PLEASED TO SUPPLY

DATA FOR THIS PURPOSE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES.

NKIOD

HAND."

REPEATED

AS REQUESTED

TRED.

NEWS

CONFIDENTIAL

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HK. GOVERNMENT. OFFICA.

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