TNAG-0505-FCO40-570-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 4

RESTRICTED

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

C T Gerard Esq

Social Affairs Department

Ministry of Overseas Development

Eland House

Stag Place

Telephone 01-

LAST

REF

(124)

MEXI

REF.

Your reference

Our reference

HKK 19/2

Date

7 November 1974

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH PROGRAMME:

AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE

124

1.

RESEARCH INTO DRUG ADDICTION

In my letter of 30 October I mentioned that the Hong Kong Government would in due course be letting us have their views on the research project on drug dependence among young people that had been proposed by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

2.

125

103

Norman Rolph, the Commissioner for Narcotics in Hong Kong, has now written to me about this project. You will see from the enclosed copy of his letter that he has considerable reservations about the scheme and says that he will need to have far more detailed information about the programme plan before he takes matters any further. In particular, he will need to know what contribution Hong Kong is expected to make in terms of money and

resources.

3.

I think it would be helpful if you could let me know whether or not this scheme is likely to get off the ground. In view of your own doubts, expressed in your letter of 4 September, and the advice now received from Mr Rolph, it seems to me that the Commonwealth Secretariat will have to give a lot more thought to this project before it becomes a viable proposition. At the very least they will need to get in touch with other international agencies to see whether or not they are already carrying out similar research projects.

Notes

6.v. 6.1.75.

A L Wotton

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department