TNAG-0417-FCO40-463-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 154

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suggested that all the information they had collected

should now be examined with a view to organising

operations along the trawler routes. They suggested

that further discussions on this should take place at

a later date.

(iv) Future co-operation

The Americans suggested that they, the UK and Hong

Kong should set up a working group to meet in rotation

in the 3 countries for one day every 3 to 6 months.

Following these plenary meetings there would be

3-monthly working meetings at an operational level

lasting for 2 days, at which operations could be

planned. This method of operation had been success-

fully used in combatting the traffic in drugs from France;

a working group composed of France, Canada and the US

had been set up. Hong Kong welcomed this suggestion.

Mr Train, however, pointed out that, while he generally

welcomed the proposal, care would have to be taken not

to allow the activities of such a working group to

overlap with those of the Ad Hoc Committee.

It was

left that the next step should be for Mr Rolph to make

a brief report for consideration in London. Mr Train

now suggests that, while we should not be in too much

of a hurry to set up the group, we should equally not,

by appearing to drag our feet now, risk losing the

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/American