CONFIDENTIAL
TOD CO
Cypher/Cat A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
219
Telno 1766
COMIDENTIAL
26 November 1967
RECEIVED IN
27 NOVISU
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 1766 of HWAY/
26 November.
Repeated for information to POLAD Singapore and Washington.
218) My telegram No. 1765, paragraph 5: Hong Kong Border.
Text of proposed Press release is in paragraph 3 below.
We will telegraph you Flash as soon as it is released here, informing you of any amendments, etc.
2.
3. Begins.
"At 5 p.m. this afternoon two Hong Kong police officers, constables Ho Yat-Keung and Chan Shu-Wing, returned to Hong Kong across the Bridge at Man Kam To. At the same time five people recently arrested after entering Hong Kong territory from China were deported. The two Hong Kong police constables crossed into China accidentally on 29 September 1967. The motor cycle on which they had ridden into China was also returned at the bridge this afternoon. Shortly after their return the two cons tables were reunited with their families at Sek Kong, Waiting to meet constable Ho were his family. Constable Chan was also met by relatives. The police officers were serving at Eastern Police Station at the time of the mishap which lead to their detention in China and they were met on their return by the Divisional Superintendent, Eastern (Mr. E.W. Moss). It will be recalled that constables Ho and Chan were on a holiday outing with comrades from their station on 29 September when, both being strangers to the New Territories and the frontier area, they took a wrong turning at Sheung Shui. They were last seen that day by their friends disappearing towards the frontier closed area barrier on the Sheung Shui to Lowu Road. By a further accident they were able to pass that barrier unchecked and a la ter report from an observer who saw them ride over the bridge led to the conclusion that they had mistaken the first barrier for a normal road check and had not realised where they were when they reached Man Kam To.
Upon their return the two police officers have been able to confirm that this is exactly what did happen. Both men were apparently in good health upon their return but in the course of the next few days they will be subjected to further medical examination. In the meantime they will be on leave so that they can rest and be with their families. A police spokesman said today that no further decision about the two men had yet been taken. At the same time as the constables and their motor cycle were returned at Man Kam To, a sterling sub-machine gun, a magazine and two rounds of ammunition were also handed back. These were stolen in an incident near Ta Ku Ling on 11 August. Also handed back were personal belongings of Senior Inspector knight who returned to Hong Kong on Monday. The deportation of five people to China took place at Lowu also at 5 p.m. The men who have been in custody were taken to the railway station at Lowu under Balice escort.
TAS?
218
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CONFIDENTIAL
/A Government