TNAG-0561-FCO40-656-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 121

SECRET!

ECLIPSE

File No.

Poge....

(b)

(c)

A)

8.

(a)

The Taiwan Government was making determined efforts (?.nybe under American pressure) to stop the movement of trafficca, in em through Taiwan. In the sub, Many GILITisere fron Thailand, Laos and Surra hd sought asylum in Tairan, and soc Thai and Laotien Chinese AA based their. Panilies there, using 10 es a safe haven, ond as a place where their occasional conference could be hold. The Case og Kong Bum Touen was then cited as an example of a Hong Kong operator who was arrested in Taiwan, and who had now been sentenced to twelve yours imprisonment as à result of information passed to the Taiwan authorities by the DEA office in Hong Kong.

As part of the overall effort against trafficing, the US would like to set up a channel for the passage of information on trafficers froHong Kong to Taiwan. The US side wore conscious of the political problems which this suggestion posed for Hong Kong, and realised that we could not be seen overtly to bo passing information to Taiwan,

This had been discussed with Ambassador Vance at the meeting of all DEA representatives from this region recently held in Bangkok, and it was appreciated that, before anything was done, Peking would have to be "sounded out" by H.M.G. Ambassador Vance thought, however, that the CPG was becoming more sensitive to the arrest of ethnic Chinese trafficers in various countries, who according to the Americans were inevitably associated with Peking in the minds of many in such countries.

In the event that the HKG considered it possible to pass information to Taiwan, the DEA would offer their services as an intermediary.

I said that I was aware of this latter issue, which presented very considerable problems as:-

(a)

(b)

the dominant political reality in Hong Kong is the CPG, to which Taiwan is anathema:

the Hong Kong Government would not take any action which might in any way effect the good relations now established between China and Hong Kong. The U.S. suggestion could do just that as:-

(i) it would be difficult to keep such a flow of

information secret from the C.P.G.

(ii)

it might involve requests for KG officers to visit Taiwan to assist in investigations, or to give evidence in Court, or for Taiwan officers to visit Hong Kong.

/(iii)