COP CONTAL
5. The question now arises of whether the United Fingdom should participate further The question turns on three issues; first on whether there is value from a curly United Kingdon point of view in keeping open channels of communication at this level and in this way with Hong Hong and the DIA: secondly on whether the exercise is likely to be of use to and to be suprorted by long long and in consequence to merit United Kingdom approval because of our responsibilities for the Crown Colony; and thirdly on whether United Fingdom participation in the eyes of the U is so impor. tant that our refusal to participate right damage the good working relationship which we have established with the in this field (or more widely). I have dineu.oed relevant aspects informally and without commitment with Pr Jordan, Chief Investigation Officer, Customs and Excise and with Fr cods, Assistant Commissioner (Crine) at New 'Scotland Yard (after speaking with Mr Bohun, 72 Division). I have also taken prelini.
ary soundings of Hong Kong and Indian Cocan Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I think that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be looking to the Home Office for authoritative guidance upon the domestic issues and for any corrent upon the other issues which we feel competent to give, and for a commitment in principle to the lend of Erugs Branch participating in the meetings on the terms at present proposed. They will then consult the "overnor of Hong long before final agreement is given to coop- eration continuing at this level.
6. Taking the three issues mentioned in paragraph 5, I consider that the following factors point towards the United Kingdom continuing to participate:-
(i) Although both police and customs in the last eighteen months have had substantial successes against those who traffic in Hong Hong heroin and although there is at present no evidence of a highly organised traffic from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom, there is no doubt that heroin from Hong Long continues to be available on the illicit market in this country. Three major cases of illicit supply or inportation in 1973 point to this and regular reports from the forensic science laboratories of the analysis of small amounts from police siezures confirm it. Á siezure of over two kilograms (a very substantial amount) by Customs on a ship at Liverpool in February 1974 indicates that the successes of 1973 have not deterred the potential trafficker; the ship had called at Hong Pong, Lingapore and Fenang, but the heroin was alleged to be from cng ong nationals, vere arrested.
two routen, Halayan hile Hong Kong heroin is available here in some quantity it would seer imprudent for the United Kingdon not to participate in the proposed meetings (a) because they will provide a direct and personal link at policy making level with the Long Kong authorities and, indirectly, enable channels of communi ations at an operational level to be kept open and (b) because they will enable the United Kingdom to be kept informed of trafficking patterns in SE Asia by the cne organisation (the DEA) which has an overview of the situation (this is of particular relevance in view of suspicions that have developed recently that heroin from the Golden Triangle is coming to Lurope through the ports of renang and singapore without touching Hong Kong). This argument has the strong support of Customs and Excise, who provide the first line of defence and who depond to a very large extent upon developing and maintaining intelligence contacts abroad.
(ii) Anything that the United Kingdom can do to assist the Hong kong lay chforce. ment agencies domestically in restricting the trafficking of heroin into and cut of Hong Kong will have actual value in controlling addiction in en ong and is likely to have potential value in diminishing the amount of illicit heroia Available for trafficking, aercau. The impression gained by r Jordan,
Commander Huntley and myself last year, and endorsed by my experience on the Ad Foo
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