TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 280

香港布政司署

Our ref. NS 7/381/63 XI/

Dear ho. The Laven,

HILK 026/2

1

1

(30

CONFIDENTIAL

43 (45

See 43

26 HKK 385/20

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY O. 51

8 AUG 1978

INDEX

No

RY

(BY BAG)

(42

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

HONG KONG,

29th July, 1978

CLE

Visit of U.S. Congressmen Original at: Lester Wolff & James Man

HKKS 026/2

and others to Hong Kong, This Copy for:

July 11th-15th 1978 i Information only | Action on

T Para((s)

Dr. Wilson wrote to the Far Eastern Department copied to you on the visit paid to Hong Kong from July 13th to 15th by Congressman Wolff, mainly concerning his statements on Taiwan. As the congressional visit consisted of two groups: the House Sub-Committee on Asian and Pacific Affairs coming from China and led by Wolff, and the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control coming from the States via Hawaii and Bangkok and led by Mann (which arrived on 11th July, and left with Wolff on 15th), I write to inform you further on the narcotics side.

You will be aware of Wolff's propensity for creating headlines and of what transpired during his last visit in 1973 when he charged that Hong Kong was the main centre for heroin processing and distribution to the United States and that the U.S. agents working here were not receiving the type of cooperation from British officials that would yield the most effective results. With all this in mind, we were curious about a report from Honolulu, about ten days before the visit, of a witness testifying before the Select Committee that he had been to Hong Kong five times on heroin buying missions, and implying that he found heroin almost as easy to get here as cigarettes (we learnt from one of the officials with the party on their arrival that this witness was a D.E.A. informer and that his testimony referred to drug-buying visits to Hong Kong over five years ago!)

In fact, since Mr. Wolff's visit in 1973 there have been major developments in the anti-narcotics scene in Hong Kong. Present indications are that Hong Kong has practically ceased to be an exporting centre for heroin and American D.E.A. and State Department officials have admitted this. Close cooperation between Hong Kong and United States law enforcement agencies in interdicting international drug trafficking in and through Hong Kong has developed and strengthened considerably since the start in 1973 of the annual Tripartite Conferences (UK/US/Hong Kong, later changed to Quadripartite with the addition of Canada in 1976). Our successes in law enforcement and in demand reduction, are earning us a growing reputation in S.E. Asia and in the wider international community. Congressman Wolff acknowledged this and first expressed his appreciation of our close anti-narcotics collaboration with the U.S. Government during the 1977 Quadripartite Conference which was held in Washington.

R.J.T. McLaren Esq.,

/cont'd

•

Hong Kong & General Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

King Charles Street,

London SW1A 2AH,

England.

C.S. 154