CONFIDENTIAL
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appropriate rules of engagement for such a situation, particularly for the small board and search party in the Fast Patrol Craft (FPC) which may be operating at some distance from the mother ship. At the same time we wish to avoid any possibility of a misunderstanding which could cause a minor incident to escalate. The change from Rule 510C to 510D - for non-automatic weapons only is intended to ensure that sailors have a realistic ability to react if threatened. (In fact, this would only bring the Hong Kong ROE in line with the recent change in RN ROE worldwide for the arming of guards to deal with the terrorist threat). Rule 510C would continue to apply for automatic weapons (ie LMG and SPMG) which represent a further degree of escalation and should only be loaded if necessary to respond to a specific armed threat. The supporting change to Rule 590B is intended to allow the clear display of small arms, where a commanding officer judges it appropriate, as demonstration of resolve and as a deterrent. The ROE would not, however, permit the pointing or aiming of weapons at an opposing vessel as a threat, in order to prevent a misunderstanding of intention which could provoke escalation into a shooting incident. This does not, of course, restrict the ability to respond in self defence using minimum necessary force (under rules 510 and 520).
Screening
The change to Rule 550 is needed to give a Patrol Vessel the ability to intervene to protect a MARPOL launch or its own FPC from harassment by screening (ie interposing itself). The next higher level of response would be to permit "riding off" but this is a more aggressive manoeuvre (especially when the Peacocks are likely to be considerably larger than the opposing vessel) and screening should be entirely sufficient to action the aim.
Escorting
a Patrol
The proposed amendment to Rule 660 is straightforward: Vessel should be bale to ensure that eg a Chinese vessel that has strayed into Hong Kong waters does indeed leave as instructed.
Conclusion
I would be grateful to know that Minister (AF) is content with the proposed changes to the ROE for the RN patrol vessels in Hong Kong.
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RP HATFIELD Head of Sec(0)(C) MB5302 86144MB
CONFIDENTIAL