TNAG-0505-FCO40-570-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 67

Our reference: DDA 64 3/69/27

Your reference: HKK 19/2

CONFIDENTIAL

HOME OFFICE

Mr. Walton OIR

P. 2.

Romney House, Marsham Street, LONDON S.W.1

Telephone: 01-799 3488, ext.

Telex: 24986

102

28 August 1974

A L Wotton Esq

Hong Kong and indian Ocean Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office King Charles Street

London SW 1

Dear Alan

RECEIVED REGISTRY No.52

29 AUG 1974

LAST

REF

36

NEW

HKK19

219/2

REF.

You sent me on 5 April three papers on the problem of narcotics in Hong kong, which Mr Rolph had prepared, and asked whether we could offer any comments.

It has taken us some time to assemble comments, and I have not, I am afraid, treated this as a matter of any great priority. Now that all the material is together, I am not sure that it is of enough substance for it to be worth transmitting to the Hong Kong Government. I wonder whether, in view of this and the lapse of time, it is worth pursuing the matter further. As you know, we are in very close contact with Mr Rolph, both airectly and through your Department, and the police and Customs services here see the Hong Kong Police and Preventive Service officers from Hong kong from time to time, so that there is continuing exchange of ideas, on the enforcement side at any rate. So far as treatment is concerned, the situation in Hong kong is quite substantially different from that in the United Kingdom and this limits the relevance of any comments that we might wish to make. The question of internal organisation is, almost by definition, outside our experience and interest. In the circumstances, therefore, unless you press for it, I would propose not to pursue the matter further.

Yours sincerely

Chris Train

C J TRAIN

Dala