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LIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
Ô 6 MAR 1980
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REGISTRY
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GRS 650
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 051020Z MARCH 80
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 337 OF 5 MARCH
INFO PRIORITY PEKING MODUK ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
OFFICE LONDON
MY TELNO 323 AND YOUR TELNO 164 TO PEKING: INCIDENT IN DEEP BAY.
SECOND
1. POLITICAL ADVISER SPOKE TODAY TO LI JUSKENG, DIRECTOR OF NCNA. HE GAVE DETAILS FROM PARA 1 OF MY TUR, SAYING HE WISHED PARTICULARLY TO BRING THESE POINTS TO LI'S ATTENTION. IT WAS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT AN ARMED PARTY SHOULD BOARD ARN HOVERCRAFT ON PATROL IN HONG KONG WATERS AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE
ATTEMPTS AT INTIMIDATION BY ARMED FORCE DIRECTED BOTH AGAINST THE R N AND THE POLICE. HE THEN SPOKE ON THE LINES OF PARA 2 OF MY TUR. LATER IN THE CONVERSATION (FULL RECORD BY BAG) HE SAID THAT A FULL R N ENQUIRY WAS NOW IN PROGRESS. UNTIL ITS FINDINGS WERE KNOWN IT WAS WRONG TO APPORTION BLAME. NEVERTHELESS, THE HOVERCRAFT
HAD BEEN SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND, PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE ENQUIRY, WE RESERVED THE RIGHT TO CLAIM COMPENSATION. FINALLY, HE THANKED THE NCNA FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN OUR ENDEAVOURS TO RESOLVE THE INCIDENT QUICKLY AND WITHOUT ALLOWING IT TO BECOME EVEN MORE
SERIOUS.
2. LI SAID HE WAS GLAD THE INCIDENT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF NCNA AT AN EARLY STAGE. THEY HAD PASSED OUR REMARKS TO CANTON WITH COMMENTS OF THEIR OWN. THE AUTHORITIES IN CANTON AGREED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS SHOULD BE RESOLVED IN A FRIENDLY AND CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT. ON THEIR SIDE THEY HAD NOT DONE THIS TOO WELL''. THERE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT THE CHINESE SECURITY OFFICERS
HAD BEEN A BIT TOO ANXIOUS'' TO SETTLE THE PROBLEM. LI SAID THAT, IF INCIDENTS OF THIS SORT OCCURRED, THE TWO SIDES SHOULD EXCHANGE WRITTEN STATEMENTS SAYING WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WHAT DAMAGE HAD BEEN SUSTAINED. PA AGREED THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT APPROACH. WE WOULD BE EXAMINING OUR OWN PROCEEDURES IN DETAIL AND HE WOULD LATER SUGGEST WAYS OF HANDLING ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS.
CONFIDENTIAL
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