TNAG-0560-FCO40-655-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 109

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5.

WE REGARD COWELL'S PROPOSAL AS A NON-STARTER. ANY OFFICIAL CONTACT WITH THE SHAN STATE ARMY, OR OTHER DISSIDENT GROUP, WOULD BE REGARDED BY THE BURMESE AS FLAGRANT INTERFERENCE IN THEIR INTERNAL AFFAIRS. IT WOULD BE HIGHLY DAMAGING TO OUR BILATERAL RELATIONS. FOR THIS REASON, WE THINK IT EXTREMELY UNLIKELY THAT THE UK OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COWELL'S PROPOSAL. YOU MAY RECALL THAT AT THE MEETING IN HONG KONG IN JUNE 1972 THE DEA POURED COLD WATER ON THIS SAME SUGGESTION.

6. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT YOU SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN ANY DISCUSSION WITH COWELL OVER THE FERITS OF HIS PROPOSALS FOR PRE-EMPTIVE DUYING, AND BE AS NON-COMMITTAL AS POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF COWELL'S CONSIDERABLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AREA, THE MEETING SHOULD STILL BE WORTHWHILE AND INFORMATIVE.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

HKIOD SEAD

UND

MR CAMPBELL MR WEIR

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MR. TRAIN

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