25
GPS 225
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY #22350Z FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 038100Z PEKING
FM HHONG KONG Ø223412 JUL 80
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 826 OF JULY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
INCIDENT INVOLVING HM TUG CLARE.
AT ABOUT #200 THIS MORNING (3JULY) HMT CLARE WAS PATROLLING IN
THE DEEP BAY AREA. DUE TO NAVIGATIONAL ERROR WE BELIEVE SHE STRAYED INTO CHINESE WATERS TO THE WEST OF SOUTH WEST POINT WHERE
SHE WAS STOPPED BY A CHINESE PATROL CRAFT WHICH FIRED WARNING SHOTS INTO THE AIR. THE CHINESE VESSEL THEN TOLD CLARE TO GO TO DA CHAN ISLAND ( ABOUT 3 MILES NW OF SOUTH WEST POINT) WERE THERE IS A
PILOT STATION. DURING THIS JOURNEY SIX CHINESE CREW FROM THE PATROL CRAFT WERE PLACED ON BOARD. FULLER DETAILS HAYE ALREADY BEEN
RELAYED TO YOU THROUGH MOD.
22.
2. DISCUSSIONS ARE NOW IN PROGRESS BETWEEN THE CAPTAIN OF CLARE AND
THE CHINESE. THE CAPTAIN HAS BEEN AUTHORISED TO EXCHANGE
STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURE PROPOSED BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO NCNA FOLLOWING THE DEEP BAY HOVERCRAFT INCIDENT
IN FEBRUARY.
3. PA HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH NCNA AND HAS ASKED THEM TO CONTACT
GUANGZHOU IN ORDER THAT THE INCIDENT MAY BE RESOLVED QUICKLY. AND THE CLARE PERMITTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG WATERS. HE HAS SAID
THAT ANY MATTERS BEYOND AN EXCHANGE OF STATEMENTS CAN BE DEALT WITH LATER THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS. THEY HAVE AGREED TO ACT
AS REQUESTED
4. WE ARE NOT (REPEAT NOT) VOLUNTEERING INFORMATION TO THE PRESS AT THIS STAGE. IF THE STORY BREAKS WE WILL ISSUE THE STATEMENT
IN M.1.F.T. AND WILL SO INFORM YOU,
MACLEHOSE
DEPTL DISTN
HKOGD
FED
DEF-D
NEWS-D
CONFIDENTIAI
мікікогол
RECEIVED IN REGISTY NO. 51 1 5 JUL 1980
DESK OFFICER. INDEX
PA
to the