GRS 400300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 1590
OF 24103OZ APRIL 87
CONFIDENTIAL
REUL
385/1 24 APR 1987
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK
WASHINGTON TELNO 825 TO YOU AND YOUR TELNO-1070 O US:
NEW US DRUGS LEGISLATION
TRY
ction Taken
Mek 27/4
WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE ACTION WASHINGTON HAVE TAKEN, AND ACCEPT THE ADVICE NOT TO MAKE A MORE FORMAL DEMARCHE, AT LEAST FOR THE PRESENT.
2. WE HAVE NOW STUDIES THE INCSR REPORT AND AGRE THAT IT IS GENERALLY FAVOURABLE. OUR COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS HAS MADE A NUMBER OF DETAILED COMMENTS, WHICH WE SHALL SEND BY BAG TO LEEKS (HKD) AND RICKETTS (WASHINGTON) IN CASE THEESE ARE OF INTEREST TO YOU.
3. OUR INTERLOCUTOR AT THE US CONSULATE GENERAL ON THIS SUBJECT RECENTLY GAVE THE DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, IN STRICT CONFIDENCE, A COPY OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT TELEGRAM NOTIFYING THE CG OF THE NEW LEGISLATION IN OCTOBER 1986. THIS CONTAINS A DEFINITION OF WHAT IS MEANT BY ''MAJOR DRUG PRODUCING AND TRANSIT COUNTRIES'', WHICH READS AS FOLLOWS:
''THE TERM 'MAJOR APPLIES TO ALL COUNTRIES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT DIRECT SOURCES OF ILLICIT NARCOTICS OR PSYCHO-TROPIC DRUGS OR OTHER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SIGNFICANTLY AFFECTING THE US: OR, COUNTRIES THROUGH WHICH SUCH DRUGS OR SUBSTANCES ARE TRANSPORTED: OR COUNTRIES THROUGH WHICH SIGNIFICANT SUMS OF DRUG-RELATED PROFITS OR MONIES ARE LAUNDERED WITH THE KNOWLDGE OR COMPLICITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.''
IT IS NOT PLAIN FROM THE TELEGRAM WHETHER THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE LEGISLATION ITSELF, OR A COMMENT BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT. IF IT IS THE FORMER, SINCE WE ARE TOLD THAT HONG KONG IS INCLUDED BECAUSE OF ITS LIBERAL BANKING SYSTEM, WE MUST TAKE EXCEPTION TO THE IMPLICATION THAT THE LAUNDERING OF DRUG MONEY IN HONG KONG IS DONE WITH THIS GOVERNMENT'S KNOWLEDGE AND COMPLICITY. IF WASHINGTON COULD FIND AN OPPORTUNITY OF REGISTERING THIS POINT IN THE SAME MANNER AS THEY HAVE ACTED SO FAR, WE SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL.
CONFIDENTIAL
(NATURALL
36
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