TNAG-0428-FCO40-493-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 43

CON

AL

HOME OFFICE

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

Telephone: 01-799 3488, ext.

Telex: 24986

Our reference: DDA/64 3/69/26

Your reference: HKK 19/3

A C Stuart Esq

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean

Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Downing Street

SW1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51

15FEB 1974

~KKI/3

ميا

D. Wotton

пресва пом

the

14 January 1974

14/

Dear Andrew

HONG KONG NARCOTICS COMMISSIONER

LAST

REF.

HKK19/3 (1973)

NEXT

REF.

Thank you for your letter of 20 December about a possible replacement for Norman Rolph on his retirement.

The post of Commissioner for Narcotics seems to me to demand of its incumbent breadth of vision, a sympathetic understanding of all the problems of addiction, diplomatic and administrative ability, and a firm grounding in and understanding of law enforce- ment problems and techniques. Rolph's successor will need energy and resolution to maintain the momentum Rolph has been able to achieve.

Of the candidates suggested, James Norman and Richard Tufnel, I know Tufnel personally and have worked with him, but I do not know Norman, except by reputation and through having read one of his books. On the above criteria, Norman, in so far as I can judge, is lacking in certain respects. What I have read of his work suggests a broad humanity, a well developed sympathy with and feeling for those who are involved in addiction and a full comprehension of the penal system, but not a wide ranging vision or background beyond this. Tufnel has a wider experience. He is, given adequate support, a good administrator, and he has a broad understanding of all aspects of problems created by drug abuse. His background is service in Malaysia and Singapore in the Customs Department (he retired as Commissioner of Customs in Singapore some time about 1960). He is, however, getting on in years; I am not certain how old he is, but I suspect it is the wrong side of 60. He is therefore, in my view ruled out on this count alone, since the post of Narcotics Commissioner will continue to demand the expenditure of a great deal of energy

a commodity of which he is gradually running out. I noticed on the Ad Hoc Committee that when he got tired, his judgement in a situation which required diplomacy and tact was sometimes lacking. Accordingly, of the two candidates proposed, in so far as I know them, Norman (who also, of couse, has local experience) would seem the better bet, yet I wonder whether he has the all round qualifications.

We have not

As regards alternatives, I am afraid that I can be of little assistance. really had a drug problem long enough in the United Kingdom for retired senior policemen to become familiar with it (there is, I believe, merit in appointing someone with this experience, although it may not be indispensable) and I know of nobody with police or customs service background who would fit the bill. As regards Government service,

one or two people with the relevant experience and qualifications, but I doubt whether those whom I have in mind would be at all inclined to uproot themselves from

Outside the United their careers in the Home Civil Service for a period in Hong Kong.

1.