TNAG-0852-FCO40-1062-Visits-of-Royal-Navy-ships-to-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 53

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

Telephone 01- 233-3181

CONFIDENTIAL

RJ Spencer Esq DS5

Ministry of Defence

Main Building Whitehall SW1

_HK_16/1

HIIS

RECEIVED IN A NO. 51 Date

OF

1979

4079

DESK OFFICE INDEX

A

3

Your reference DS5/24/4/75

qur reference DPG 076/393/1

20 February 1979

POSSIBLE VISIT TO CHINA BY HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT

•1. You wrote to me on 29 January seeking our views on a proposal for Hong Kong patrol craft to visit China. We agree with you that it would not be appropriate for these small patrol craft to visit China before a visit by a larger vessel such as a frigate or Type 42 destroyer. Our first RN visit since 1949 will be a political event of some importance. We want to impress the Chinese with a modern warship even if we subsequently have to refuse to sell it to them!

2. I should be interested to know who suggested a visit to China by the Hong Kong Squadron. The correct procedure would seem to be for CBFHK to assertain the views of the Hong Kong government while we consider with you any wide implications of such a visit.

cc:

Mr Ling, HK&GD

Miss Lawrence, FED

Mr Aves, DS6 MOD

1

量

Miss A Johns

Defence Department

CONETDENTTAL