TNAG-0418-FCO40-464-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 151

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Wednesday, October 17, 1973

Sir Albert Rodrigues, the present chairman of ACAN, would continue

to preside over the re-constituted committee, the Governor said, as Sir

Albert's unparalleled experience, devotion and authority in this field

clearly made him the man for the job.

The Commissioner for Narcotics will be a member of the committee

and he and his staff will form the committee's executive arm and provide it with

the administrative muscle it has so far lacked.

Sir Murray also announced that a liaison officer would be seconded

next month to the British Embassy in Bangkok, with the full approval of the

Thai Government. The move follows visits by the Commissioner for Narcotics to

Burma, Laos and Thailand earlier this year.

The Governor emphasised that in attempting to reduce and eradicate

the drug problem in Hong Kong, progress must be made in four separate but

inter-related fields.

Firstly, he said, international action was essential in the prevention

of production and despatch of drugs to Hong Kong. This relates to the

Golden Triangle and Thailand, the country from which come nearly all opium and

opium derivatives consumed in Hong Kong.

Secondly, international action was also required in the interception

of shipment on the high seas, mostly by trawlers, to international waters

off Hong Kong.

The other two were the suppression of clandestine entry into Hong

Kong and distribution to addicts by local criminals, and the eradication of

both of which were directly. within Hong

demands by cure of addiction

Kong's jurisdiction.

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