PS/S of S
Copies to
PS/Minister of State
PS/US of S(RN) Sec/1SL
Sec/VCNS ACDS(Ops) ACNS (0)
AUS (NS)
DNOT
CONFIDENTIAL
Head of DS 11
DPR(N)
FCO(FED) (Mr McLaren)
FCO (Hong Kong & General Dept)
никог
kozoli
40
Entr
مانا
HM TUG CLARE
1.
DETENTION BY CHINESE
As I mentioned to you earlier this morning we are receiving messages which indicate that the Royal Navy Tug CLARE was detained by a customs vessel of the Peoples Republic of China at about 2000 our time yesterday evening. The exact position of the incident has not yet been determined but it appears that CLARE may have been in Chinese territorial waters.
2.
The crew of the Chinese ship are reporting to have fired a volley of small arms into the air whilst making the arrest. CLARE is now at anchor close to the Chinese shore with the Customs vessel alongside. As occurred in the case of the Hovercraft accident a few months ago, the Captain of CLANE has made a statement to the Captain of the Chinese Customs vessel and has requested a reciprocal`statement. Ours is reported to contain a passage to the effect that CLARE may have been in Chinese waters in error. The latest report we have suggests that the Captain of the Customs vessel is now on shore and consulting his superiors.
3. I attach a copy of the defensive press brief prepared in Hong Kong for use in reply to enquiries from the media. None have been received so far. Our press office has been briefed on similar lines as has the FCO's.
4.
I will keep you in touch with any major developments.
At this stage it seems unlikely that events will take a turn for the worse. The Hong Kong authorities are, however, keeping a close watch on the situation.
3 July 1980
CONFIDENTIAL
सकर
A J CRAGG
Head of DS 5