TNAG-0560-FCO40-655-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 94

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4. IN ANY CASE IT SEEMS DOUBTFUL WHETHER SUCH PROPOSALS

WOULD YIELD WORTHWILE DIVIDENDS. THE SSA ARE NOT PRIMARILY

PRODUCERS OF OPIUM BUT ARE MAINLY TRAFFICERS. COWELL'S

OFFER MIGHT DO NO MORE THAN STIMULATE ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION:

ANY CONTRACT OVER DELIVERIES WOULD BE WORTHLESS AND UNENFORCE-

ABLE AND EVEN IF EVERYTHING WENT RIGHT, THE SSA PROBABLY

HANDLE NOT MUCH MORE THAN 15% OF TOTAL BURMESE PRODUCTION

AND HAVE NO CONTROL OVER DEMAND WHICH MIGHT

WELL FIND OTHER MEANS OF OBTAINING THEIR ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES.

5. I SHOULD BE RELIEVED TO KNOW THAT COWELL'S PROPOSALS

ARE NOT GOING TO BE PURSUED."

FCO PASS ALL ADDRESSEES

O'BRIEN

**

FILES

HKIOD

SEAD

UND

MR CAMPBELL

MR WEIR

COPIES TO:

MR TRAIN, HOME OFFICE

- 2.

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