XN000022-1992-10-14 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992

EXPLANATION FROM CHINA SOUGHT ON RECENT SEA INCIDENTS

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR AN EXPLANATION OF RECENT INCIDENTS WHERE CHINESE OFFICIALS INTERCEPTED OR DETAINED OUTBOUND VESSELS WITHIN OR JUST OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR

ASPREY

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MAN SAI-CHEONG, SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECEIVED AN APOLOGY FOR ONE OF THE TWO INCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED IN HONG KONG WATERS.

HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS YET TO RECEIVE A REPLY ON THE OTHER INCIDENTS ALTHOUGH HE UNDERSTOOD THE VESSELS CONCERNED WERE SUSPECTED

OF SMUGGLING.

WATERS.

"

"WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR A REPLY, THE SECRETARY SAID.

HE SAID ONLY TWO OF THE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE IN HONG KONG

"THESE

WERE WELL WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE COULD BE ANY QUESTION OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINESE WATERS HAVING BEEN CONFUSED," HE SAID.

HE SAID THE SHIPOWNERS HAD BEEN ADVISED TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS VIA THEIR FLAT STATE IF THEY FELT THEY HAD BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED.

"THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE,"

HE SAID.

MR ASPREY SAID ALL THE INCIDENTS, APART FROM THOSE IN HONG KONG WATERS, OCCURRED IN THE LEMA CHANNEL WHICH WAS PROHIBITED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO ALL BUT CHINESE VESSELS.

TO

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT THEREFORE ISSUED A NOTICE ON SEPTEMBER 19 REMIND MARINERS OF THE PROHIBITION, WHICH WAS CLEARLY MARKED ON NAVIGATIONAL CHARTS.

"WE HAVE ALSO ASKED THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO INFORM US THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS IF THEY HAVE EVIDENCE OF ANY VESSELS BEING INVOLVED IN SMUGGLING, SO THAT WE CAN CO-OPERATE BY TAKING ACTION IN HONG KONG WATERS,' HE SAID.

"

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD A RIGHT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THOSE THEY SUSPECTED OF BREAKING THE LAW IN THEIR WATERS.

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