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3. DURING THE DISCUSSION LI CLAIMED THAT THE CHINESE PATROL
CRAFT HAD BEEN MORE SEVERELY DAMAGED THAN THE HOVERCRAFT. BUT, APART FROM SAYING THAT THE PATROL CRAFT WAS THE PASSIVE ACTOR IN THE INCIDENT, HE DID NOT MAKE A SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO APPORTION BLAME: NOR DID HE REFER TO COMPENSATION. LI REFERRED
TOTTHE EARLIER MIRS BAY INCIDENT AS A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR IN THIS CASE, BUT HE DID NOT PURSUE THE POINT. THE DISCUSSION CONCLUDED WITH LI AGREEING WITH THE PA THAT SUCH
INCIDENTS SHOULD BE SETTLED BY CO-OPERATION IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE
AND NOT BY RESORTING TO FORCE OR THE THREAT OF IT.
4. THE TONE OF LI'S REMARKS WAS FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. WITHOUT ACTUALLY APOLOGISING, HE MANAGED TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION THAT
HE THOUGHT THE CHINESE SIDE HAD BEEN WRONG IN BOARDING THE
HOVERCRAFT AND DISPLAYING WEAPONS.
MACLEHOSE
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HKr GD
FED
DEF D
PUSD
NEWS D
OID PS PSILPS
PSI MR BLAKER
PSI MRRIDLEY
PS | MR HURD
PS PUS
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
SIR.D. MAITLAND SIRA ACLAND MR CORTAZZI
MRMURRAY, MR. P. H. MOBERLY
COPIES
TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
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