CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
100304
MDHIAN 1940
4
HICC 380/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
24 MAY 1993
DESK C
TOP COPY
DICE
REGISTRY
Q
dion Take
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TO DESKBY 2409OOZ FCO
TELNO 830
OF 24070OZ MAY 93
INDEX
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YOUR TELNO 499: PIRACY: IMO MEETING.
1.
WE HAVE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY THE COURSE OF ACTION SUGGESTED BY DTP IN PARA 3 OF TUR BUT, ON BALANCE, CONSIDER IT WOULD STILL BE PREFERABLE FOR THE PAPER TO BE WITHDRAWN, THUS REMOVING IT FROM THE FORMAL RECORD OF THE MEETING. IN SUCH A CASE; THE HONG KONG DELEGATE (DRUMMOND) COULD STILL SPEAK ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED BY DTP. WE HAVE ASKED MORRIS (SECURITY BRANCH) TO LET US HAVE SIGHT OF THE SPEAKING NOTE WHICH DRUMMOND WILL USE. WE WILL FORWARD A COPY ONCE IT HAS BEEN AGREED HERE AND WE PROPOSE THAT DRUMMOND SHOULD FOLLOW IT STRICTLY.
2.
AS EXPLAINED BY MORRIS WE HAVE A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO STRIKE. ON THE ONE HAND WE DO NOT WANT TO ANTAGONISE THE CHINESE: AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST NOT BE SEEN TO BE UNDERPLAYING THE SERIOUSNESS OF SOME OF THESE INCIDENTS. LOCAL PRESS COMMENT REMAINS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF A PERCEIVED LACK OF ADEQUATE RESPONSE ON THE PART OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES.
3. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RELEVANT MEETING OF THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR 26 MAY NOT (NOT) JUNE.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PURSUE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PAPER WITH THE SECRETARIAT, AS SUGGESTED IN PARA 4 OF TUR.
4.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
70
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
DISTRIBUTION
77
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