TNAG-0560-FCO40-655-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 43

Mr Stuart,

Hong Kong and Indian

Ocean Department, F&CO

R

LÜMAN IS

Norman Rolph Esq

JK/19/1

Commissioner for Narcotics

Colonial Secretariat

HONG KONG

(41)

1

น

вод

HOME OFFICE Romney House

Marsham Street London SW1

7 March 1975

Keeffe

O/R

18/3

not endid

Dear Norman

I enclose a copy of a letter that I have sent to John Bartels about the tripartite meetings. As you will see, I have put it in such a way, as we agreed in Geneva, that neither is committed but that either he can press for a meeting this year if he feels it necessary from his own point of view. I had in mind the possible difficulties that you foresaw on your side because of changes in personnel and financial stringency. Perhaps you will be able to reach a decision on this before you leave Hong Kong.

I also enclose a copy of the provisional summary record of the Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in which you spoke on trafficking in Hong Kong (pages 17 to 19 refer). I should be grateful if you would check this and return it to me as soon as possible in order that I can let Geneva have a revised version. We have been given about three weeks for this purpose.

I am also using this letter to tie off the loose ends on your ideas about a "think tank" to find new solutions to the problems of opium growing in the Golden Triangle. I told you that I had had a very full discussion about your proposals with officials from the South East Asian, Hong Kong and Indian Ocean and UN Departments of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and that we had concluded that for the time being we must proceed with extreme caution, so that nothing is done to offend or alarm the Burmese which would cause them to draw back from the more forward position they have adopted in the last 18 months towards the United Nations. We see the mission of the United Nations to Burma last year as a most encouraging development and believe that this for the time being offers the only hope for making that we could usefully progress. If and when the United Nations programme becomes operational in Burma, it may then be possible to consider developing further initiatives along those lines based upon it which will work towards the Golden Triangle. For the time being, however, we have, regretfully, to put up with the existing situation.

I hope you had a safe journey home and that your last few weeks in Hong Kong are not proving too exhausting, either from the work or social point of view. I much enjoyed seeing you in Geneva and working

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