TNAG-0417-FCO40-463-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 140

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Regarding Hong Kong, the year since the

Assembly last met in Frankfurt has been marked by considerable progress. The British and Hong Kong Governments note with satisfaction the steps which the Burmese, Laotian and Thai Governments

have taken, and are continuing to take, to substitute the growing of opium with other crops and the more vigorous action which is being taken. generally in these three countries to suppress the illicit traffic. The immense difficulties inherent

in pressing forward with these projects are fully appreciated and meaningful results can only be long term, but nevertheless they are important, for the eventual eradication of illegal opium cultivation provides the only sure way of dealing with the problem at source and thus gradually eliminating it altogether. It is to be hoped that no effort will be spared to continue and expand the good work now in progress both in the fields of opium crop substitution, and suppressing the illicit traffic much of which finds its way into the international networks to Hong Kong and other places.

2.

There is one particular aspect of the illicit traffic which causes great concern to the Hong Kong Government and that is the stream of trawlers which

carry raw opium and morphine base from the Gulf of Thailand to international waters in the vicinity of Hong Kong for trans-shipment to local fishing boats and smuggled ashore. It is estimated that perhaps as much as 50 tons of raw opium and several tons of morphine base for manufacturing into heroin finds its way into Hong Kong annually by this method. Some very large seizures have been made by the South Vietnamese authorities this year and in Hong Kong also.

CONFIDENTIAL