AKCK 02011
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
27 MAY 1980
DESK OFFICE:
REGISTRY
Action Taken
PA
28.5 CONFIDENTIAL
AN 28
OP COPY
INDEX
Mw
GPS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 238855Z MAY 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 673 OF 23 MAY
INFO IMMEDIATE MOD UK
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
(16)
See (2
PEKING TELNO 53 AND MYTENO 114 TO PEKING INCIDENT IN DEEP BAY. ALL THE NECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS HERE HAVE NOW BEEN COMPLETED. REPAIRS FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE RN HOVERCRAFT WHICH ARE PROCEEDING ARE ESTIMATED AT HONG KONG DOLLARS 330,000.
2. THE COURT OF ENQUIRY DECIDED THAT THE BLAME FOR THE INCIDENT RESTED ON THE CHINESE SIDE. NEVERTHELESS WE SEE NOTHING USEFUL TO BE GAINED BY ATTEMPTING TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FROM THEM INEVITABLEY THEY WOULD PUT FORWARD COUNTER-CLAIMS. THE RESULT WOULD
BE A LONG DRAWN OUT WRANGLE WHICH WOULD DAMAGE POLITICAL RELATIONS. WE SEE NO (REPEAT NO) PROSPECT OF THEM ACTUALLY PAYING COMPENSATION 3. INSTEAD WE BELEIVE THAT IT IS BEST TO SAY TO THE CHINESE THAT WE ARE WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN IN THE INTERESTS OF GOOD RELATIONS.
THIS IS AS THEY HAVE ALREADY PROPOSED ON THEIR SIDE. WE WOULD INCLUDE IN THIS THE EARLIER INCIDENT IN MIRS BAY (SEE MYTELNO 323,
PARA 3).
4. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS INCIDENT CLEARED UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR YOUR AGREEMENT BY 29 MAY TO PROCEED AS ABOVE. WE ASSUME COST OF REPAIRS WOULD BE SHARED IN THE NORMAL WAY UNDER THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD
DEF D
FED
SIR D MAITLAND
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
19