TNAG-0560-FCO40-655-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 42

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

Telephone 01-

Your reference

Our reference

Date

Res

? Already

42

file for Mr Whit

19 March 1975

ว·

J S Chick Esq RANGOON

Dear John,

DRUGS IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

1.

I am sending with this the tape recording of a meeting held in Thailand earlier this year between Adrian Cowell, Lester Woolf and representatives of the Shan States. This was given to us by Mr Train of the Home Office. Adrian Cowell had given it to Norman Rolph, Commissioner for Narcotics in Hong Kong, at the recent meeting of the Narcotics Commission in Geneva, and he had passed it to Train.

2. As far as can be discovered from the tape, those present at the meeting were Cowell, Woolf, Congressman Murphey; a representative of the Shan State Army, a representative of the Shan United Army, and a third unidentified American, possibly a representative of the Drug Enforcement Agency.

3. I think you will find the recording of interest, but it has little new information. The Shan representatives argue that they are best placed to check the opium trade because of their administrative and military control of the Shan States area. They estimate their opium production at 300 tons a lower figure than often suggested.

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4. They also mention that through a "high-ranking Thai officer" they have been approach by the Burmese Government about possible negotiations; and they briefly discuss the level of Chinese support for Communist insurgents. Generally, however, though there are some interesting points, the discussion raises no new issues.

Your ever

Hugh

H D MacPherson

South East Asian Dept

CONFIDENTIAL