CONFIDENTIAL
24 MAY 1990
HKB 177/
FROM:
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
12 JUN 1990
DATE:
24 May 1990
C. Sk
TER
PS/Mr Maude
Cc:
Mr McLaren
Mr Burns
m ver.
ROYAL NAVY IN HONG KONG: RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Problem
་་
1.
Changes to the Rules of Engagement to be followed by RN vessels
in Hong Kong waters.
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that Mr Maude endorses the proposals at Annex A.
Background
3.
Following the increase in recent months in the number of
incidents involving incursions into Hong Kong waters by vessels from
the People's Republic of China (most recently the smuggling incident of 3 May), the Governor and the CBF wish to introduce some minor
modifications to the current Rules of Engagement to be followed by
RN vessels in Hong Kong waters.
4. Most of these incidents have been relatively trivial ones, and
there is no evidence of a deliberate Chinese policy of intimidation or provocation. But an appropriate adjustment in the Rules governing the ways in which RN vessels may respond to such
incidents, is now needed. The task of policing Hong Kong territorial waters is primarily one for the Hong Kong Maritime
Police (MARPOL). But the RN patrol vessels have a back up role and
BATADA
CONFIDENTIAL