COPY FOR REGISTRATION
JUN
217)
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 5 June, 1967.
R. 5
15552
1967
215
FLASH
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 780
Addressed to Commonwealth Office Repeated
11
tt
Peking No.314 and
POLAD Singapore No.164
(Commonwealth Office please pass
IMMEDIATE to both)
Your telegram No. 11 24. 216
Overflying.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No. 63
- 6 JUN 1967
Hun 1/D
Accidental overflying of Chinese waters and territory is confirmed. Helicopters were launched from 'BULWARK' from inside south-east corner of square boundary to land advance party. They were under orders to fly north to avoid port shelter firing area before turning west to land on Saikung Peninsula. They sighted Mirs Point and mistook it for the southern point of the Peninsula, and therefore turned north-east to avoid eastern edge of the firing area.
20
The SIOUX did not in fact pass over the mainland but flew north-east over the sea. It did not discover the navigational error until well into Bias Bay, when it turned back south-west and crossed the island as in paragraph 2 of my telegram No. 777. It then returned direct to the ship.
3.
One of the WESSEX after turning north-east, did not discover his error until he had gone about three miles beyond the square boundary, had turned to the north, and had then turned to the west crossing Chinese territory about 1 mile north of Mirs Point. (His task was to cross Saikung Peninsula and land his passengers on its north shore which he thought he was doing. The other three WESSEX when about 3 miles east of Mirs Point discovered their error and turned to the south without crossing land. All four WESSEX then returned direct to
t BULWARK'.
Li.
The exercise. At first light on 6 June, 'BULWARK' is due to land Commando from a position close east of Saikung Peninsula and support them ashore until 8 June. Commando during this period will be exercised on the Peninsula, deploying and redeploying by helicopter. On 8 June Commando is due to return by helicopter to ship which will be in same position close inshore throughout.
(Passed as requested)
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CONFIDENTIAL
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