TNAG-1709-FCO40-2384-Hong-Kong-narcotics-offences-and-drug-trafficking-1988 — Page 170

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Article Number

6. 1(a) (iii)

7.2

8

9

12.3 to 12.7

13

14.2 (a)

This provision may have implications for such things as bankers rules of confidentiality. It needs further thought.

As more than one law enforcement agency in Hong Kong may be involved we suggest "authorities" instead of the singular.

This article is unnecessarily comprehensive and detailed and as such will prove to be too restrictive to most governments. There is up to now no evidence to suggest that precursors and essential substances are posing a problem in Hong Kong. Some general guidelines similar to those in Article 13 would

be sufficient.

We agree with you that such controls seem to be unnecessary.

In Hong Kong, customs enforcement does not extend to the high seas. These provisions would therefore be inapplicable to Hong Kong and the draft should allow for that.

We note that the UK has forwarde Hong Kong's dr. on the article regarding free trade zones and free ports to the UN. However, we are dis- appointed that our proposed version was virtually unrecognisable in the draft. It.now seems

to us that our proposals would constitute useful code for enforcement at all points of entry, not just free ports and zones and we suggest they

be offered to the Commission on that basis.

Your attention is drawn to Article 36 of the Con- vention on the Universal Postal Union which stipulates that the insertion of narcotics and psychotropic substances in letter post items shall be prohibited (as opposed to "discouraged" in the present draft).