GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.
布政司署
香港下亞厘畢道
MON 20 SEP 93 11:25
CONFIDENTIAL
本署檔號 Our Ref.:
* Your Ref.:
RAJ Bunten, Esq.,
A
Hong Kong Department, FCO
PG.11
(22
By Fax: via Communication
GOVERNMENT SECRETAR
BR
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
20 September 199
HICA 062/1
193
Y
Sealed.
REORY Anton Taken
мь
Ditching of RAF Helicopter in Chinese Waters
21
John ha
Thank you for your letter of 17 September. asked me to reply in his absence for a meeting with Guangdon officials on Daya Bay.
We did as you surmise inform the Chinese on 17 September of the initial search and rescue operation, in accordance with the well-established procedures for dealing with such incidents. We also informed them that the Wessex had ditched into the sea and that HMS Starling was going to the scene to investigate. They did not raise any difficulty about this. We are, therefore, slightly puzzled by your reference to the need to do more to keep the Chinese informe of incidents like this.
As to the present position, HQBF/MOD are still considering whether or not to try to recover the Wessex, whi has sunk. If they do wish to do so, we will of course clear our lines first with the NCNA. We will keep you in touch wi developments.
viely
c.c.
s for s CA/CBP
(Ms Annette/Lee)
Assistant Political Adviser (G)
(Attn: Ms Barbara Ellington)
CONFIDENTIAL