TNAG-0418-FCO40-464-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 134

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the Far East region. It was made clear that Hong Kong

does not consider that the creation of a formal Sub-

Commission would be helpful, or a progressive step. The Committee appeared to agree with this view. The recommendations of a Sub-Commission would require to be ratified by the Commission itself which must lead to protracted delays before they could be implemented, a position not acceptable in a shifting situation at ground level which more often than not calls for early

action if it is to be effective. Furthermore there could

be no guarantee that the Commission would accept a Sub-

Commission's recommendations, since a fair number of its

members have little or no direct interest in the drug

problems of the Far East region and for political or other reasons might nullify them, or water them down.

3.

Notwithstanding the various informal arrangements which exist at present and the posting of a Hong Kong narcotics liaison officer to the Embassy at Bangkok, we advanced the view that there is room for improved international cooperation within the region to suppress illicit trafficking more effectively. We told the

Committee that we believe this can be achieved best by having regular meetings of senior narcotics law enforcement officers from the countries in the Far East,

perhaps half-yearly, to assimilate collectively the lessons brought out from cases which have come to light and to review trafficking trends. Such meetings might possibly be chaired by the U.N..Regional Drug Adviser for South East Asia shortly to be appointed who could act as a neutral ringmaster. The benefits which should accrue from meetings of this kind we see as :-

(a)

improved trust and confidence between countries on narcotics matters through regular personal contacts between those

principally involved in suppressing the illicit traffic leading to

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