TNAG-0505-FCO40-570-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 150

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CONFIDENTIAL Reference...............

Mr Wotton

COMMISSIONER OF NARCOTICS

1. Mr Rolph, Hong Kong Commissioner of Narcotics, called in your, Mr Crowson's and Mr Stuart's absence on 27 June.

2.

Mr Rolph is en route to the conference in Washington and hopes to come back to the Office towards the end of July whilst he is on leave here. Mr Rolph asked me to tell you that he had been discussing with the Commander of the Naval contingent in Hong Kong the question of interception of Thai trawlers on the high seas. This had of course been ruled out as politically impossible. The Commander, however, suggested that it might be possible, during routine exercises or whenever a Thai trawler was sighted by RN vessels, for such vessels to be tracked. This would be with the possibility that they could be intercepted after entering Hong Kong waters or, should they pass over drugs to a Hong Kong ship, then the latter could be intercepted.

3. Mr Rolph said that this suggestion would be put to us formally in due course but thought you might like to have a prior warning.

1 July 1974

Mr. Crowson Crowson

To

M A Goodfellow

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept

Yes, thanks

Doe

P.W.

please. You may

4/2 4/7

recoll that the

M.O.D. sent us

sent us details

R. N.

instructions for the shadowing

of Thai bradplers

Openingsbing drugs

suspected of

Confidential

Badalton 2/5.

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