SECRET LOC SEN / ECLIPSE
From: Commodore J. A. G. Evans.
THE COMMODORE-IN-CHARGE,
HONG KONG
571/30
H Griffiths, Esq
DS 5a
Ministry of Defence
00814
8 February
15700 15,
i
Dear Mr. Griffiths
HONG KONG
CONTROL OF NARCOTICS TRADE
1. Thank you for your letter D/DS5/HI of 20 December 73 which I have delayed answering until I had the opportunity to discuss the matter with A/COS (0) to CINCFLEET whilst he visited Hong Kong.
2.
The FCO letter HKK 19/3 of 9 November 73 spoke of generally harassing the Thai trawlers. Quite apart from the political and legal implications, it would be impossible with the present force
The levels existing in Hong Kong to harass all the Thai trawlers. ships at present available simply could not conduct surveillance of the area proposed on a continuous basis. In my view, the best that could possibly be achieved would be the shadowing of specific trawlers and then only if sufficient intelligence were provided to enable identification and localisation.
3. If, however, the force level was available, there are still a number of problems associated with the proposal that the RN should patrol the approaches 30 to 100 miles from Hong Kong. Firstly, it must be remembered that there are 6000 fishing vessels registered in Hong Kong. When the Chinese fishing fleet is added to this total you will realise the impossibility of finding any one vessel unless extremely good intelligence is available.
4.
For ships other than the Hong Kong Squadron, COM HONG KONG command area only extends to 50 miles from Hong Kong. Thereafter, Opcon is exercised either by COMANZUKNAV or CINCFLEET. Clearly it would be impossible to chop Opcon in the middle of the surveillance area and command areas would need to be adjusted to permit a single authority to exercise command.
5. The legal position and rules of engagement also require resol- ution. Any attempt to board on the high seas could be construed as piracy, and, of course, if the trawler entered CHICOM Territorial waters no warship could follow her. A Commanding Officer would obviously require very clear rules of engagement which would be difficult to frame, due to the conflicting requirements of permitting the Commanding Officer to take positive action yet without breaking the law.
/continued
SECRET / LOC SEN / ECLIPSE
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