HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 16 May 1990
香港立法局 一九九0年五月十六日
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SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Sir, the facts of the incident as we know them are as follows:
The police organized an operation on 2 May against a group who were believed to be involved in the theft of cars with the intention of smuggling the vehicles to China. The operation involved the hire by two members of the police, working under cover, of a lighter and a tugboat, together with their 5- man crew. The vessels were moored at the pier at Tap Shek Kok at 8.00 pm on 2 May. An ambush was set by other police officers surrounding the pier.
Just after 10.00 pm a speedboat came to the side of the lighter. In it were five men in what appeared to be Chinese official uniform, and one man in plain clothes. The latter boarded the lighter and enquired about the arrival of the goods. After half an hour he returned to the speedboat which departed.
The speedboat subsequently returned around midnight and the same man again boarded the lighter. He made telephone calls with a wireless telephone. The five men in uniform were still on board the speedboat.
The speedboat subsequently left but returned once more around 3.00 am. Shortly after 4.00 am three Mercedes cars arrived at the pier and were loaded onto the lighter. Just after 4.40 am the man who had been in civilian clothes, but was by now also wearing what appeared to be an official uniform, gave the order to sail. He himself left in the speedboat. Four of the personnel in uniform stayed on board the tug and the lighter. At least one of them was armed. Also on board the tug and lighter, were the 5-man crew and the two undercover police officers.
At 4.50 am the police arrested three men on the pier in connection with the theft of the cars.
Shortly after 5.00 am the Marine Police intercepted the tugboat and requested it to stop. This request was refused. When the police launch subsequently attempted to come alongside, a weapon was pointed at the launch. At about 5.50 am a Chinese Border Inspection vessel came alongside the Hong Kong police launch. The police launch sought co-operation from the Chinese vessel in stopping the lighter, but this was not forthcoming.
On receiving a report of the incident, the Hong Kong Government through he Political Adviser's Office requested the immediate return of the two members of the police, the tug. the lighter and their crew, and the stolen cars. The