D B Aldis Esq GF3
Ministry of Defence Main Building Whitehall SW1
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
AKK ozolb
London SW1A 2AH
RIO IN LISTRY NO. 51 2 1 APR1981
INDEX
MACLA
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PA
No Max
REGISTRY Action Taken:
11/4
15 April 1981
COLLISION BETWEEN RN HOVERCRAFT AND CHINESE GUNBOAT IN 1980
1.
(IOP)
Thank you for your letter of 1 April addressed to Philip Morrice in Hong Kong and General Department. We note the points you make.
2. The decision not to claim on the Chinese government was taken as part of the policy of HMG (of which the MOD is a part).
In any event, a claim even if made might well not have been met by China. The cost in that case would have fallen to be borne by the MOD. We recognise no grounds on which that financial liability should be amended.
3. I am copying this letter to the recipients of yours, and in view of his general responsibility for non NATO defence matters as they affect the FCO, to Roger Jackling, DS11
bcc:
HK&GD
Civ, Sec BFHK
NL MOD Claims MOD
DS5 MOD
B Watkins
Defence Department
12