CONFIDENTIAL
3. IN RESPONDING TO OUR PROTEST THE CHINESE MAY MENTION AN
INCIDENT INVOLVING A POLICE LAUNCH AND A CHINESE PUBLIC SECURITY
SPEEDBOAT WHICH OCCURRED IN MIRS BAY ON 29 SEPTEMBER. DURING THIS
INCIDENT TWO OF THE CREW OF THE SPEEDBOAT FELL OVERBOARD: ONE WAS PICKED UP AND THE OTHER WAS LATER FOUND DROWNED. DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT ARE IN DISPUTE. THE HONG KONG POLICE STRONGLY REFUTE THE CHINESE CLAIM THERE WAS A COLLISION OR THAT THEY WERE TO BLAME
FOR WHAT OCCURRED. THEY SAW AN UNLIT STATIONARY BOAT WHICH TOOK TO BE SNAKE BOAT AND BELIEVE THAT THE CHINESE CREW PANICKED WHEN THE POLICE LAUNCH CAME CLOSE TO INVESTIGATE. A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION (UNSPECIFIED) WAS LATER MADE THROUGH THE NONA. THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED. IF THE CHINESE REFER TO THIS INCIDENT I SUGGEST THAT PEKING SHOULD SAY THAT NORMAL CHANNELS EXIST FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUCH PROBLEMS AND THAT THE MIRS BAY INCIDENT PROVIDES NO JUSTIFICATION FOR CHINESE ACTIONS IN DEEP BAY.
4. IF THE CHINESE BLAME THE HOVERCRAFT FOR THE COLLISION THE EMBASSSY COULD SAY THAT, AS IS NORMAL PRACTICE, A FULL NAVAL ENQUIRY WILL BE HELD (IT SHOULD START ON 5 MARCH). THIS WILL
ESTABLISH THE FACTS ON THE BRITISH SIDE. MEANWHILE IT WOULD
BE WRONG TO ATTEMPT TO APPORTION BLAME. WHOEVER WAS AT FAULT
THERE WAS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE SUBSEQUENT ACTION OF THE CHINESE
GUNBOAT. THE HOVERCRAFT WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND PENDING THE
OUTCOME OF THE ENQUIRY WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM COMPENSATION.
5. IF YOU AGREE THAT A PROTEST SHOULD BE MADE IN THESE TERMS, I HOPE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DO NOT THINK THAT
WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE NAVAL ENQUIRY, ALTHOUGH
THAT MIGHT PRODUCE ADDITIONAL POINTS WHICH COULD BE MADE LATER.
I WOULD LIKE THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO SPEAK AT THE SAME TIME TO
THE NCNA HERE.
MACLEHOSE
FILE S
HK & GD (4)
PS/MR RIDLEY PS/MR HURD
PS/PUS
SIR D MAITLAND
SIR A ACLAND
FED
DEFENCE D
PUSD
NEWS D
OID
MR CORTAZZI
PS
MR MURRAY
PS/LPS
MR J C MOBERLY
PS/MR BLAKER
2 -
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON STREET, W.1
CONFIDENTIAL