CONFIDENTIAL
233 4381
HKK 385/1
21 February 1977
28
HONG KONG: DRUGS
1. We have noticed that your Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answered a Written Question by Mr Frank Hooley MP on 8 February asking whether Hong Kong is a significant source of supply of heroin or other drugs illicitly traded in the UK. You, for your part, may have seen that Mr Hooley asked 7 other Questions of the FCO at the same on various aspects of Hong Kong's drugs problem. (For convenience, the Hansard references are Written Answers, Col. 604, 616-618 for 8 February and Col. 734 for 9 February.)
2. Mr Hooley's PQs, coming on top of a number of other questions tabled by him and other MPs last year on Hong Kong's drugs problem, are but one indication of the interest being taken in this subject and in the connection that is sometimes drawn between Hong Kong and the UK with regard to drugs. There was, for example, a report in the press last month about the trial of members of the Chinese community in this country for drug offences. At least four of those accused and found guilty were Hong Kong Chinese. In addition, there was a fair amount of press and television coverage towards the end of last year about the planned expulsion of Chinese nationals, many of them Hong Kong Chinese, from The Netherlands on account of their involvement in various crime syndicates, including drug trafficking. Further, we understand from the Hong Kong Government's Commissioner in London, who keeps a close eye on developments in this field, that the BBC will shortly be producing three programmes on Hong Kong, one of which will deal with the drugs problem. Jon Swain, the "Sunday Times" reporter, is also believed to be planning a visit to Hong Kong in order to write articles on the drugs problem. In short, Hong Kong's drugs problem is likely to continue to attract public attention.
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