TNAG-0741-FCO40-945-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 51

GR 1

PRIOR

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 2423452

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.375 OF 24 MARCH 78,

INFO PRIORITY PEKING.

HKK,000/1

INDEX

28 MAR 1978

OFFICE

No lat

See /4's

1. A SMALL CHINESE GUNBOAT OF THE HOI KUNG CLASS PASSED

THROUGH HONG KONG WATERS YESTERDAY GOING FROM WEST TO

EAST BETWEEN LANTAU AND TSING YI ISLANDS AND THEN THROUGH.

THE EAST LAMMA CHANNEL TO THE SOUTH OF HONG KONG ISLAND. IT WAS WITHIN THE SQUARE BOUNDARY FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS: DURING THIS TIME IT WAS SHADOWED BY A MARINE POLICE

LAUNCH AND A HELICOPTER, THE NEWS IS REPORTED PROMINENTLY

IN TODAYS PRESS.

2. CHINESE GUNBOATS FREQUENTLY AND TRADITIONALLY OPERATE

IN HONG KONG WATERS IN MIRS BAY AND DEEP BAY. IT IS LESS

USUAL FOR THEM TO COME NEAR THE HARBOUR AREA. THE LAST

OCCASION OF WHICH WE HAVE A RECORD WAS IN 1963.

3. THE POLITICAL ADVISER WILL TAKE A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY

TO MENTION THIS INCIDENT IN A LOW-KEY MANNER TO THE NCNA

AND GIVE THEM DETAILS OF THE BOAT. THIS WILL BE DONE NOT (REPEAT NOT) AS A PROTEST, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF SEEKING

TO AVOID POSSIBLE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND MAINTAINING

HARMONIOUS RELATIONS.

MACLEHOSE

PILES

HK & GD (5)

FED

NEWS D

MR MURRAY

CONFIDENTIAL

}