TNAG-0504-FCO40-569-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 216

SECRET AND ECLIPSE

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

N Rolph Esq OBE QPM CPM

Commissioner for Narcotics Colonial Secretariat

HONG KONG

LAST

REF.

NEXT

REF

Telephone 01-

9

Your reference (21) NS 62/76/98S

Our reference

HKK 19/2

Date

29 January 1974

NARCOTICS:

1.

INTERCEPTION OF THAI TRAWLERS ON HIGH SEAS

In your letter of 11 January to Chris Train about HK/US/UK cooperation, you mentioned that the trawler traffic between Thailand and Hong Kong appears to have stopped, at least for the time being.

2.

You may, however, like to have the enclosed copy of a letter from the Ministry of Defence in which they outline the extent to which they think the Royal Navy would be able to go in taking action against Thai trawlers. You will no doubt remember that the question of the harassing and searching of Thai trawlers by the Royal Navy was first raised during the Anglo/American discussions on dangerous drugs last June.

As you will see, the MOD reaction to these proposals is, not surprisingly, somewhat unenthusiastic.

I shall be in touch with Chris Train about the question of tripartite meetings between HK/US/UK and no doubt he will be writing to you shortly about this.

3.

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.