AIR MAIL
ECLIPSE
Ref: (36) in NS 62/76/98S
SECRET
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY Nɔ. $1 24 APR 1974
BY BAG
45
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT.
HONG KONG.
11th April 1974
Dear Wotton,
HICK 19/2
Thank you for sending me on 19th March, 1974
copies of correspondence from Griffiths at the M.O.D. and the Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong, about the Interception of Thai Trawlers on the High Seas. Andrew Stuart also sent me a copy of a letter from Griffiths on the same subject on 29th January, 1974 your reference HKK 19/2.
We were never hopeful that it would be possible for the Royal Navy to intercept Thai trawlers on the High Seas carrying contraband opium products to Hong Kong. However, at the time this was discussed at the UK/HK/US meeting at Hong Kong in June 1973, this regular trawler traffic out of Thailand was a very serious problem for us. It seemed only right therefore that we should examine every possibility to counter it, notwithstanding the obvious legal and other difficulties confronting the Royal Navy in taking action on the High Seas.
As you may know, about the middle of last year the trawler traffic stopped, and to date it has not re- started according to our information, confirmed by the Americans, despite rumblings on occasions that it was about to do so.
In view of the above and the virtually insuperable difficulties inhibiting the Navy from taking action in any case, we propose to let the matter drop. I will call on the Commodore after Easter to put him in the picture.
May I thank your office and the M.O.D. for all the trouble taken on our behalf. Despite the unenthusiastic response to the idea, I believe that an examination of the problem has probably been a useful exercise.
A.L. Wotton, Esq.,
Yours sincerely,
Mormon Rolla.
(N.G. Rolph)
Commissioner for Narcotics
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
LONDON.
Mr.
Crown Mr. Studies 24/4
Dans Bryly
to see
Why to ex. C. J. Thain (H.)
SECRET/3/55. MOD then.
Ther. A. comffitthus
1
23/4
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