TNAG-0562-FCO40-657-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 53

CONFIDENTIAL

EXTRAD IT ION TO U.S. HAVE SO FAR FAILED, AS U.S. TREATY OF EXTRADITION WITHIN THAILAND OF 1922 DOES NOT RPT NOT INCLUDE NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AS BASIS FOR EXTRADITION

(REFTEL).

5. DEA REGIONAL OFFICE BANGKOK WISHES TO ARRANGE WITH BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG TO DETAIN MA PENDING EXTRAD IT ION UNDER INDICTMENT BY FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK.

6. WHILE OPPORTUNITY IS TEMPTING, THERE ARE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS ABOUT ASKING BRITISH TO DETAIN INTERPRETER FOR THAI DELEGATION TRAVELLING TO CHINA, PARTICULARLY AS MEMBER OF CABINET AND THAI OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED. DELEGATION MIGHT WELL TAKE VIEW THAT ARREST OF MA BY HONG KONG AUTHORITIES AT REQUEST OF U.S. GOVERNMENT IS ATTEMPT BY U.S. TO HINDER OR EMBARRASS THEIR VISIT TO CHINA. AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO RPT NO EVIDENCE THAT THAI DELEGATION IS AWARE OF MA'S NARCOTICS INVOLVEMENT.

7. FROM POLITICAL STANDPOINT WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE, IF BRITISH AGREE, TO DETAIN MA WHEN DELEGATION PASSES THROUGH HONG KONG ON RETURN TRIP TO THAILAND. HE COULD BE DETAINED AT BORDER ON THE TRAIN FROM CANTON TO HONG KONG, ARREST OF MA AT THAT TIME MIGHT CREATE FEWER POLITICAL PROBLEMS. ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET MA INTO U.S. CUSTODY.

8. ACTION REQUESTED: THAT DEPT INSTRUCT EMBASSY

.

LONDON TO SEEK BRITISH AGREEMENT TO ARREST OF MA IN HONG KONG WHEN THAI DELEGATION RETURNS FROM CHINA, HOLDING HIM IN HONG KONG UNTIL EXTRADITION CAN BE ARRANGED TO UNITED STATES. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF APPROACH IS TO BE MADE IN LONDON, AND WE WILL BRIEF BRITISH EMBASSY HERE AND SEEK THEIR COOPERATION. HMG WILL PROBABLY WANT VIEWS OF BRITISH EMBASSY BANG KOK IN ANY CASE.

9. FOR DEA HONG KONG: PLEASE ARRANGE WITH BRITISH

POLICE TO ALLOW MA TO PASS THROUGH HONG KONG ENROUTE TO PEKING DESPITE HIS BEING ON HONG KONG NARCOTICS WATCH LIST. THIS

WILL ALLOW ALL PARTIES TIME TO DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION TO EFFECT HIS PROVISIONAL ARREST WHEN HE REENTERS HONG KONG

FROM CHINA

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BT #0227

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MASTERS

CONFIDENTIAL.