TNAG-0505-FCO40-570-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 5

R

RECANADA

TM 52

- 4 OCT 1974

RESTRICTED

123

BY BAG

(119)

Ref: (9) in L/M No.331/74

Dear Mr Wotton,

Rach

LAST

NEXT

REF.

Colonial Secretariat,

Hong Kong.

31st October 1974

I refer to your HKK 19/2 of 16th September, 1974 concerning the Commonwealth Youth Programme: Research into Drug Addiction Among Young People, addressed to Peter Williams and his reply thereto of 16th October, 1974. The proposal

has been referred to me to process.

I am afraid it is not possible for me to say on the scanty information available whether Hong Kong would wish to be associated with a project such as this one or not. It will be necessary for me to put the matter to the Action Committee Against Narcotics (Hong Kong's top advisory and policy making body in respect of anything to do with the illicit drug trade and drug abuse) in due course to seek its views. Before I can do so, I will need to know, in outline at least, the programme plan for the project to incorporate a statement of the practical value to be anticipated from the research. In particular, I will require information about the contribution Hong Kong will be asked to make in terms of money and resources.

Past experience of this type of research project indicates to me that the current proposal should be approached with considerable caution. If it is to serve a worthwhile purpose and be of assistance in the prevention and treatment of drug abuse and drug dependence amongst young people, then it will need the most careful and detailed planning, adequate funding and resources, plus the ability and motivation to carry through what inevitably must be a fairly long term project extending probably over two to three years.

So many drug research projects fail because they lack these elements and lose sight of the hard realities of life in the twilight world at grass roots level.

To the best of my knowledge, the Division of Narcotic Drugs at Geneva is not promoting any project of this nature on behalf of the Commission or U.N.E.S.c.o. However, the U.N. Defence Research Institute at Rome may have something along these lines on its books though I am unaware of its overall project programme. The Colombo Plan Drug Adviser has it in mind to promote a rather vague type of drug research project during 1975 in co-operation with the U.N. Defence Research Institute and other agencies if the Plan's Consulta- tive Committee votes to continue his office next year at its

C.S. 143