TNAG-0417-FCO40-463-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 115

Our reference: Your reference:

10.

A C Stuart Esq

HOME OFFICE

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

Telephone: 01-799 3488, ext. 41

Telex: 24986

HKK19/3

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean

Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street

SW1A 2AH

1101

Mr Sport

I have arianged I

medsing

5 Suplim mould's

1.

3

Wotton

speaks to 17.

Tain, thank him for this letter

and ask it we combed

beginning 18 Sept.

a meeting in the weck

It will be difficult

before then becom

of leave & the Govenors Abs 29/80

Since my return from leave I have had the opportunity only to glance at Mr Rolph's report of the Anglo American discussions on dangerous drugs held in Hong Kong from 7-9 June.

Dear Stuart

This seems to me to be a broadly sensible and accurate account of what occurred and I am not in disagreement with its main conclusions with one exception, and this is a matter of doubt about the course of action proposed rather than certainty that it is incorrect. Mr Rolph and I, as you will see from our respective reports, both came to the conclusion that the United States was very keen for the United Kingdom to be directly involved in any follow-up to the meeting, although they appreciated the position in which the United Kingdom stood. Accordingly, although I take the force of the arguments that Mr Rolph deploys on page 3 of his report, I think that he may be rather unrealistic in supposing that the Americans will so readily forgo the direct participation of the United Kingdom in future cooperation which the Americans proposed at the meeting. This view is to some extent substantiated by a letter which I have received today (copy enclosed) from John R Bartels Junior, the Acting Administrator of the new Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States. Furthermore some arguments, to which it was unlikely that Mr Rolph would allude, point in the direction of at least limited United Kingdom participation. I suggest that it would be helpful if we could now meet for a discussion of the Hong Kong position, and I should be glad to come over to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office whenever it is convenient for you to see me.

Yours sincerely

Train

C J TRAIN