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7
DAMAGED. THAT BRITISH HOVERCRAFT HAD ALSO BEEN DAMAGED. THE CHINESE
VIEW WAS NOW THAT THE INCIDENT SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN, AND BOTH
SIDES SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE FUTURE. CONTACTS COULD BE
STRENGTHENED SO THAT FURTHER SUCH INCIDENTS COULD BE AVOIDED:
THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES WOULD BE PLEASED TO HEAR ANY CONCRETE
SUGGESTIONS FROM THE HONG KONG SIDE.
5. SULLIVAN THANKED ZHENG FOR THIS STATEMENT, WHICH HE PROMISED
TO PASS ON. HE SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THE HONG KONG SIDE WERE
ALSO CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT, THE RESULTS
OF WHICH THEY WOULD WISH TO PASS ON TO THE CHINESE SIDE IN DUE
COURSE. IN ADVANCE OF THIS HE COULD NOT COMMENT ON THE QUESTION
OF ANY FOLLOW-UP TO THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT. HE WAS SURE THAT
THE HONG KONG SIDE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
FURTHER COOPERATION WITH THE GUANGDONG SECURITY OFFICIALS WITH A
VIEW TO PREVENTING FURTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND WOULD ALSO BE GLAD TO HEAR ANY CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS FROM THEM.
6. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR NEWS OF OUTCOME OF ENQUIRY FOR
BACKGROUND IN CASE QUESTION IS RAISED AGAIN IN PEKING, BUT
PRESUME FURTHER CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE WILL TAKE PLACE LOCALLY.
CRADOCK
FILES
HK & GD
DEFENCE D
FED
SIR D MAITLAND
MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON
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