TNAG-0417-FCO40-463-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 114

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Our reference: Your reference:

POL/64 1105/1/19

R B Crowson Esq

HOME OFFICE

Romney House, Marsham Street, LONDON S.W.1

Telephone: 01-799 3488, ext.

Telex: 24986

10

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department HKK 19/3

Overseas Development Administration

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Eland House

Stag Place

SW1E 5DH

41

Las le outer skin Reg

MJ Wotton

ll. Consider & disc

4/9

و صریح

with SEAD & fortiko OPA

30 August 1973

Dear Crowson

The Home Office has been asked by the United Kingdom representative to Interpol (Mr C P J Woods, Assistant Commissioner (Crime), New Scotland Yard) to comment upon a draft statement about dangerous drugs in as much as they affect Hong Kong to be included in any statement that Mr Woods is proposing to make at the Interpol General Assembly in Vienna in October. I understand that a copy of the draft has been sent by Mr Rolph, Commissioner of Narcotics in Hong Kong, to you for information.

123

The line that Mr Rolph has taken follows closely that which he has been developing in his various reports upon the Hong Kong situation over the last year, with which you are familiar, and the general assumptions upon which the draft statement is based are unexceptionable. However, I am not altogether happy about the idea that the United Kingdom representative at Interpol should be making statements on behalf of the United Kingdom and Hong Kong Governments congratulating Governments of certain other states upon action which they have taken and urging them (and another Government) to take or continue to take action in this field. It does not at first sight seem to me to be an appropriate role for a police officer, however senior he may be, nor does it seem an appropriate place for such a statement to be made. I may be unnecessarily cautious about this, but, in view of the sensitivity of the Burmese in particular upon this subject, I think it worth seeking your view, since this is essentially a matter of foreign relations.

I assume that Mr Woods will be assembling his brief for the meeting in the near future and I hope that you will be able to let us have your views as soon as is convenient to you.

Yours sincerely

Train

C J TRAIN