GPS 310
GPS 310
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL RIC:
DESKBY FCO AND MODUK 291630Z PEKING 010001Z
FM HONG KONG 291620Z FEB 80
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 311 OF 29 FEBRUARY
INDEX
1020 O BOLESPASTRY NO.
-3
3 MAR 180
PA
INFO IMMEDIATE MOD UK PEKING HONG KONG GOVE OFFICER LONDON
MYTELNO 310: INCIDENT IN DEEP BAY
FOLLOWING LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS AND EXAMINATION BY BOTH SIDES , OF DAMAGE TO THE RN HOVERCRAFT AND CHINESE PATROL BOAT, THE CHINESE WITHDREW THEIR 2 PATROL CRAFT CLOSE TO THE HOVERCRAFT AT ABOUT 2040 LOCAL. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE CHINESE, THE HOVERCRAFT RETURNED TO BASE UNDER HER OWN POWER AND WITHOUT DIFFICULTY.
2. AFTER FURTHER PROTRACTED DISCUSSION OF THE PRECISE WORDING
OF STATEMENT TO BE EXCHANGED PARTICULARLY 3(B) BELOW AGREEMENT WA S REACHED AT ABOUT 2300 (LOCAL) AND OUR NEGOTIATING
TEAM RETURNED TO A POLICE LAUNCH AND TO BASE. THE INCIDENT IS
NOW OVER.
3. DOCUMENTS EXCHANGED WERE:
51
(A) STATEMENT BY THE CAPTAINS OF THE 2 VESSELS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE COLLISION. THE RN STATEMENT WAS FACTUAL AND MADE NO ATTEMPT TO APPORTION BLAME. THE CHINESE STATEMENT IN ADDITION TO RECOUNTING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE CHINESE VESSEL, CLAIMED THAT THE HOVERCRAFT MADE NO EFFORT TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION AND SAID THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD ADMIT FAULT. IT ALSO RESERVED THE RIGHT
TO CLAIM COMPENSATION AND SAID THAT ONE CHINESE SEAMAN WAS
''SERIOUSLY INJURED''.
(B) A STATEMENT BY THE SENIOR OFFICER, HK SQUADRON, AS FOLLOWS: THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES THAT THE RN AND RHKP WILL EXAMINE PROCEDURES IN THE LIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT TO SEE WHAT MEASURE S ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT SUCH INCIDENTS RECURRING IN FUTURE. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXPRESSES THE HOPE THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WILL DO THE SAME''.
4. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE CHINESE INTEND TO PUBLISH ANY OR ALL OF THESE STATEMENTS BUT THINK IT UNLIKELY. WE DO NOT
INTEND TO DO SO.
5. SEE MIFT
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD
FED
DEF D
PUSD
NEWS D OID PS PS/LPS
PS/MR BLAKER PS/MR RIDLEY
PS/MR HURD
PS/PUS
SIR D MAITLAND
SIR A ACLAND
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
MR J C MOBERLY
CONFIDENTIAL
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