XII.
NAVAL.
SE CRE T.
Likely Communist Policies
and Actions.
(a) Chinese Communist war-
ships are likely to enter the waters of the Colony without prior notification. At first the Chinese Communist Navy are not likely to have many large warships and the temptation for their smaller craft to enter or take shelter in the waters of the Colony will be great. They may also be tempted to a ct provocatively in Deep Bay and Mirs Bay, and to interfere with small Chinese junks in those two Bays (the waters of which are all B ritish).
(b) Chinese warships may wish to come to Hong Kong to refuel and revictual.
(c) The crews of Chine se
warships visiting Hong Kong may go ashore and behave provocatively. Receptions may be given for them and this may be used for propaganda purposes by the Communists.
(d) Chinese warships may seek
to enter British waters
under the pretext of help- ing the Chinese Maritime Customs to intercept smugglers.
Action by Hong Kong.
Unauthorised and unmotified entry of Communist warships into British waters will have to be dealt with very firmly from the outset, even at the risk of incidents. If they are allowed to think they can get away with it, they will be encouraged to try further.
A grave embarrassment in connection with the entry of Chinese warships is however the text of the 1898 Peking Con- vention, which states that Chinese warships may use the waters of the Colony.
This matter has been taken up by the Hong Kong Government with H.M.G., and the Foreign Office and Colonial Office legal advisers have stated that they interpret this right as being only a limited one, and not a general right to use the waters at will, or to patrol in the Colony's waters. interpretation will have to be insisted upon with the utmost firmness.
Our
In all cases of visits by Chinese warships to Hong Kong notice should be insisted upon, with an absolute minimum of three days. A procedure should be worked out and this procedure should be made known to the Chinese Communist authorities through the British Consul. It would be a wise measure to draw up details of the procedure and send it to H.B.M. Consul-General, Canton, as soon as possible. If the procedure is disregarded our case should be taken up and made the subject of a protest, and if necessary Chinese warships should be refused entry if they disregard the usual courtesies.
There is no reason why Chinese war- ships should not refuel and revictual from their own bases, and it may be desirable to refuse general facilities unless good cause is given. This would require special legislation.
This is a further reason for restrict- ing visits as much as possible and for refusing fuelling facilities which would be an excuse for entry. If there is pro- vocative behaviour by Chinese Communist sailors ashore they should not be allowed to land, and if possible large public receptions for them should be prohibited. No wearing of arms ashore or marching in procession should be permitted.
This
This cannot be accepted. The C.M.C. are allowed to patrol in Deep Bay and Mirs Bay strictly under the terms of the 1948 Hong Kong/China Customs Agreement. agreement may not be renewed but even if it is on no account should Chinese Naval vessels be allowed to operate on behalf of the Chinese Maritime Customs,