SECRET UK EYES BRAVO
MKB 177
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10
126434 MDHOAN 8978
SECRET
UK EYES BRAVO
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 993
OF 17150OZ MAY 90
0 1 JUN 1990
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM BURNS (AUSS)
YOUR TELNOS 1559 AND 1598: RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE)
1. I WAS MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE CBF'S PROPOSALS
TO MODIFY THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR RN VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS, AND FOR THE DETAILS OF PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. ALL THIS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MOD.
2. WE SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF INCURSIONS AND WE AGREE THAT AN APPROPRIATELY ROBUST RESPONSE IS REQUIRED. BUT, AS I AM SURE YOU WOULD ALSO AGREE, IN MAKING THESE CHANGES THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO MINIMISE THE RISK THAT A MINOR INCIDENT COULD ESCALATE AND GET OUT OF HAND, AS A RESULT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING OR MISCALCULATION. IT IS CERTAINLY WORRYING THAT FIREARMS WERE BRANDISHED IN THE 3 MAY INCIDENT, WHICH WE APPRECIATE IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF SERIOUS INCURSIONS. WE CONSIDER HOWEVER THAT ONE OR TWO OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD TAKE US RATHER TOO FAR UP THE SCALE AT PRESENT.
3.
WE SUPPORT THE GENERAL CAVEAT WHICH YOU HAVE PROPOSED ABOUT THE AREA OF APPLICATION OF THESE RULES. BUT, EVEN WITH THIS CAVEAT WE SHOULD STILL PREFER TO SEE THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS TO THE CBF'S PROPOSED CHANGES:
(A)
PROPOSAL TO CHANGE ROE 510C TO ROE 510D.
WE AGREE THAT COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO AUTHORIZE SERVICEMEN TO CARRY ARMS WITH LIVE AMMUNITION ON PATROL, BUT ONLY FOR NON (NON) AUTOMATIC WEAPONS (IE PISTOLS ETC). WE BELIEVE THAT ROE 510C COULD CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS (MACHINE GUNS) WHICH SHOULD ONLY BE LOADED IF NECESSARY TO RESPOND TO A SPECIFIC ARMED THREAT. THIS WOULD CORRESPOND PRECISELY WITH RECENTLY AMENDED ROE FOR RN VESSELS WORLDWIDE.
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