TNAG-0561-FCO40-656-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 65

CONFIDENTIAL

RU

100

LAST

107.

GRS 622

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 260910Z

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVEDI REGISTRY No, 50

23975

KK1911

REF.

P

گانستاست

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 622 OF 26 JUNE INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (F CO PLEASE PASS).

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 497: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WRITTEN ANSWERS TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS ARE LIMITED TO 50 WORDS ONLY. WITHIN THIS LIMITATION, I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING ANSWERS.

A) SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IS BEING MAINTAINED. DURING THE LAST 18

MONTHS, ALMOST £12 MILLION WORTH OF DRUGS HAVE BEEN SEIZED, 11 HEROIN REFINERIES HAVE BEEN NEUTRALISED AND 59 MAJOR ARRESTS

HAVE BEEN MADE. DESPITE THIS SUCCESS, THERE IS NO REAL EVIDENCE

THAT SUPPLIES OF DRUGS TO HONG KONG HAVE BEEN CUT OFF.

B. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED THIS YEAR TO SPEND OVER

DOLLARS 220 MILLION MORE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE THAN IN 1974/75 (AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 115). NO ITEMS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. AMONG ITEMS POSTPONED ARE THE OPENING OF A NEW HOSPITAL AND RELATED CLINICS FOR SIX MONTHS, AND

CAPITAL WORKS IN RESPECT OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND SOME

SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR ONE YEAR.

C. IN OCTOBER 1974, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY APPOINTED INSPECTORS

TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY. IN THE LIGHT OF THE INSPECTORS' INTERIM REPORT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PETITIONED, AND THE COURT ORDERED, THAT THE COMPANY BE WOUND UP UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE. THE

MATTER IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE POLICE.

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