TNAG-0506-FCO40-571-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 64

GS. HO

Ref: (69) in NS 72/76/985

Dear Chris,

BY BAG

Colonial Secretariat,

Hong Kong.

30th November 1974

Just a note to keep you up to date on one or two happenings

out here which may be of interest to you.

Jack Cusak was in Hong Kong recently for a couple of days during the course of a round the world tour. He visited me on 13th November for a briefing session accompanied by Vincent Promuto, Director, Office of Public Affairs, D.E.A., Washington, and Daniel Addario, 0.E.A. incoming Regional Director to replace Fred Dick. Yesterday Sheldon Vance was in town end I was able to brief him and hold some useful discussions. He is at the concluding stage of a series of visits around the world.

Fortuitously Cusak's visit coincided with the greatest series of anti-narcotics law enforcement successes Hong Kong has ever enjoyed in the shape of the arrest of a number of Mr. Bigs in the illicit drug trade here and their principal lutenants leading to the destruction of the management of the major import and heroin manufacturing syndicates and their financial backing. Naturally Cusak was elated. In such an atmosphere the briefing obviously went well.

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Cusak had no particular matters to raise. Clearly the Americans were very pleased with the UK-HK-US talks at Washington in July, (page 3 of my letter (97) in NS 50/76/98C of 2nd October). Intelligence and information exchanges are improving both on the American side and ours I am glad to say which is of vital importence if traffickers are to be deterred, harassed and impeded to the greatest degree possible and successes driven home. The resident Interpol Regional Liaison Officer for South East Asia and the Far East should be of much assistance in widening the scope of this essential activity when he gets on the ground next year.

I tried out on Cusak the idea of an international 'think tank' to examine afresh the problem of illicit opium production in the golden triangle (my (109) in NS 50/76/98C II of 7th November) and drew a guarded reaction. Of course it is rather beyond his competence as a law enforcement officer. He agrees that crop substitution is never likely to amount to much in practical terms and is not himself averse to having a new look at the problem, but I received the impression that beyond what is being done now he can see no new avenues which could offer practical solutions. He may be right, but that is no reason for not thoroughly examining the problem in depth.

ECLIPSE