CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 19/2
Reference....
१.
Mr Stuart (HKIOD)
letter to ssul
Der 17/8.
ANGLO/US/HONG KONG DISCUSSIONS ON DRUG TRAFFICKING HELD IN WASHINGTON - 1-3 JULY 1974
Folio 96 below.
1. The meeting clearly seems to have proved worthwhile. Given our earlier doubts about the value of these meetings it is something of a bonus that we should now derive some direct benefits from them.
2. I do not think it is entirely fair for Mr Train to say that Mr Rolph might let things slip
As or drift to a standstill in Hong Kong. Mr Rolph reported at the Conference, the situation in Hong Kong has improved significantly over the last 18 months. It is no doubt true that this improvement has in large part been due to the successful interdiction of the trawler traffic but it has also been due I think to the major reorganisation of the Government departments responsible for narcotics suppression in Hong Kong itself. A White Paper on Narcotics has recently been published and new legislation has been introduced to step up fines and penalties for drug offences. There are regular newspaper reports of drug hauls in Hong Kong; only the other day a cache of drugs worth HK$20 million was discovered. It has been estimated that over HK$40 million of drugs have been seized in the last 2 months. Although Mr Rolph has his shortcomings, I would have thought that
complacency was not one of them. However, I do not think there is any point in taking issue with Mr Train on this.
3. There can be little doubt about the considerable improvement in regional cooperation in South East Asia and the success that this has brought over the last year or so. One of the main objectives now must be to maintain the impetus that has been gained and not allow the
At the same time I think more pace to slacken. emphasis could now be placed on the exchange of information about trafficking networks between Hong Kong and the UK/US.
4. I attach a draft letter to Mr Train as requested. I have sent a copy of his note to
SEAD.
trabzon
2 August 1974
A L Wotton
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
CONFIDENTIAL
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