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4.
The Chinese reply is not wholly satisfactory. The way they refer to their investigation maker it clear they accept that it was their people who fired the shots. It is slightly puzzling that they should then claim that no one was hurt and that there was no landing on our side of the river. Nevertheless, I would still rate the response as being about 40% satisfactory. I think we can take it that the reference to the incident meriting "close attention" and to the Chinese having taken "corresponding steps" means that those involved have been suitably
reprimanded.
It is perhaps too much to expect that they should make a frank admission of a major error on their side.
5.
Fortunately, we seem to have succeeded in keeping any mention of the incident out of the press.
CC
(D C wilson)
RJT McLaren Esq
Hong Kong & General Department
ET Davies Esq Peking
CONFIDENTIAL
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