SPEAKING NOTE
1.
I would like to express our concern about the number of recent incidents concerning Vietnamese ships sailing from Hong
Kong. On 28 August the Political Adviser's Office in the Hong
Kong Government spoke to Mr Yang Youyong of the New China News
Agency (NCNA) about reports that Vietnamese ships, bound for
Vietnam, had been detained and taken to Shekou. NCNA replied
that the ships concerned were suspected of being involved in
smuggling, and that Shenzhen would provide details "in the
near future". No such details have to date been received.
2.
The Political Adviser's Office spoke again to the NCNA on 3
September to request more information and to complain about two
further serious incidents including one where an official from
the Zhuhai City Public Security Bureau was found on board a
Vietnamese vessel (the Coluyen 02) in the middle of the East
Lamma channel, which is well inside Hong Kong waters.
3. You may be aware that there has been considerable press
interest both in Hong Kong, and overseas, at the seizure of
these vessels. As an international trading port, it is
essential to Hong Kong that its sea lanes should be kept open
and vessels allowed to exercise the right of innocent passage.
It is also a matter of great concern to us that PRC security
forces appear to have attempted to exercise jurisdiction in Hong
Kong waters. We recognise the need to deter and stop smuggling
activities, but we are most disturbed that the Shenzhen and
Guangdong authorities have not yet made any response to the
request for information from the Hong Kong Government.
4. We should be grateful therefore if your Government would
instruct the local authorities to respond quickly to these requests of the Hong Kong Government.
note.FUT.JRB