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CONFIDENTIAL HKK-020/1
Detached from working papers - For revention on
file
31 January 1980
P.P.
Mr. Willian J 21.2
45.
AST PAPER
Pl. discuss with FED. I
think the incident can be left.
for
t
CR 5/3571/71
R J T McLaren Esq
Far Eastern Department F CO
Do Legal Advisers
gree? Du
BORDER INCURSION BY CHINESE HELICOPTER
You will have seen from Hong Kong telegram no 121 of 21 January that a Chinese helicopter, carrying out mapping flights North of the border, intruded into Hong Kong on a number of occasions on 19 January. I thought that we should not let such an incident pass without comment, particularly since Canton had sent flight notifications which were tantamount to ignoring the need to ask for permission to carry out cross-border flights. I therefore spoke to the NCNA, as reported in that telegram, and gave them a map with full details of the incursions.
2.
The NCNA have since replied to say that a thorough investigation has been carried out by the Canton Civil Aviation authorities. On the day in question weather conditions had been good and the Shenzhen River could be seen clearly. no point did the helicopter penetrate into Hong Kong air space.
At
3.
The assertion that the helicopter never crossed into Hong Kong is nonsense. They must be well aware of this fact although they attempted to suggest that, since the river winds, it might be possible for an observer to be mistaken.
4.
It is a pity that they could not simply acknowledge that a mistake had been made. Nevertheless, in responding as they did, they have tacitly acknowledged that the helicopter should not have crossed into Hong Kong. We have thus made our point. I would have been prepared to agree to a limited number of crossings on specified occasions to complete the mapping operation if they had so wished. However, they have also told us that the mapping has been completed. I think, therefore, that this incident can now be considered as closed.
LAST PAPER
cc
R D Clift Esq (HKGD)
I J B George Esq (Peking)
(D C Wilson)
CONFIDENTIAL