CONFIDENTIAL
062121
MDHIA 7663
ONLY WAS A CHINESE SECURITY VESSEL SEEKING TO EXERCISE JURISDICTION IN HONG KONG WATERS BUT THE OFFICERS INVOLVED TOTALLY REFUSED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE MARINE POLICE, EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF NOT IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES. WE STRESSED IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A CHINESE SECURITY OFFICER SHOULD THREATEN A
HONG KONG POLICE OFFICER WITH A WEAPON AND DEMAND TO BE GIVEN A FILM (HKG PROPERTY (EXCLAM)), AND THEN DESTROY IT. WE REQUESTED AN EXPLANATION OF THE CONDUCT OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NCNA (YANG YOUYONG) UNDERTOOK TO ENQUIRE IMMEDIATELY INTO THE TRUE FACTS', AND STRESSED THAT UNTIL THESE WERE ESTABLISHED IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE HONG KONG SIDE TO MAKE ANY OFFICIAL COMMENT.
6. AT 1730 WE RECEIVED A MESSAGE BACK THROUGH THE BORDER LIAISON CHANNEL. THEY THANKED US FOR RETURNING THEIR THREE MEN AND SAID THAT ANY IMPROPER ACTIONS BY THE MEN INVOLVED WOULD BE APOLOGISED FOR. THEY CLAIMED THE INTERCEPTION (I.E. OF THE FISHING VESSEL) STARTED IN CHINESE WATERS: AND IT WAS SUSPECTED OF SMUGGLING. THE POLICE DID FIND THREE AIR CON UNITS AND FIVE TELEVISIONS ON
BOARD.
7. THE PRESS ARE AWARE OF MOST OF THE DETAILS OF THIS INCIDENT (WE THINK PICKED UP FROM POLICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS). WE HAVE PUT OUT A SIMPLE STATEMENT WITH AN OUTLINE OF THE FACTS, MAKING CLEAR THAT WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR GRAVE CONCERN TO THE CHINESE.
8. WE WILL BE GETTING THE DETAILED POLICE REPORT TOMORROW ON THE BASIS OF WHICH WE WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE NCNA AGAIN. IN VIEW OF THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF THE INCIDENT AND THE PUBLIC CONCERN HERE, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE EMBASSY IN PEKING COULD ALSO RAISE THE INCIDENT WITH THE MFA AND EXPRESS CONCERN. WE WILL FAX TO THEM OUR MORE DETAILED SPEAKING NOTE.
COMMENT
9. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL WISH TO BE AWARE OF THESE EVENTS AS BACKGROUND TO HIS MEETING WITH QIAN. BUT I WOULD NOT SUGGEST THAT HE RAISES THEM AS AN ISSUE IN WHAT WILL ALREADY BY A FULL AGENDA, UNLESS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF.
10. THIS IS THE MOST DISTURBING INCIDENT OF THIS SORT THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR SOME TIME. THE FACT THAT THE CHINESE OFFICERS INVOLVED REFUSED TO DIVULGE THEIR IDENTITIES INDICATES THEIR FEAR AT BEING CAUGHT UP TO NO GOOD. THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS COMPREHENSIVELY PHOTOGRAPHED BY THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, BUT NOT
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CONFIDENTIAL