TNAG-0932-FCO40-1151-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1980 — Page 106

CONFIDENTIAL

3. IN RESPONDING TO OUR PROTEST THE CHINESE MAY MENTION AN

INCIDENT INVOLVING A POLICE LAUNCH AND A CHINESE PUBLIC SECURITY

SPEEDBOAT WHICH OCCURRED IN MIRS BAY ON 29 SEPTEMBER. DURING THIS

INCIDENT TWO OF THE CREW OF THE SPEEDBOAT FELL OVERBOARD: ONE WAS PICKED UP AND THE OTHER WAS LATER FOUND DROWNED. DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT ARE IN DISPUTE. THE HONG KONG POLICE STRONGLY REFUTE THE CHINESE CLAIM THERE WAS A COLLISION OR THAT THEY WERE TO BLAME

FOR WHAT OCCURRED. THEY SAW AN UNLIT STATIONARY BOAT WHICH TOOK TO BE SNAKE BOAT AND BELIEVE THAT THE CHINESE CREW PANICKED WHEN THE POLICE LAUNCH CAME CLOSE TO INVESTIGATE. A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION (UNSPECIFIED) WAS LATER MADE THROUGH THE NONA. THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED. IF THE CHINESE REFER TO THIS INCIDENT I SUGGEST THAT PEKING SHOULD SAY THAT NORMAL CHANNELS EXIST FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUCH PROBLEMS AND THAT THE MIRS BAY INCIDENT PROVIDES NO JUSTIFICATION FOR CHINESE ACTIONS IN DEEP BAY.

4. IF THE CHINESE BLAME THE HOVERCRAFT FOR THE COLLISION THE EMBASSSY COULD SAY THAT, AS IS NORMAL PRACTICE, A FULL NAVAL ENQUIRY WILL BE HELD (IT SHOULD START ON 5 MARCH). THIS WILL

ESTABLISH THE FACTS ON THE BRITISH SIDE. MEANWHILE IT WOULD

BE WRONG TO ATTEMPT TO APPORTION BLAME. WHOEVER WAS AT FAULT

THERE WAS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE SUBSEQUENT ACTION OF THE CHINESE

GUNBOAT. THE HOVERCRAFT WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND PENDING THE

OUTCOME OF THE ENQUIRY WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM COMPENSATION.

5. IF YOU AGREE THAT A PROTEST SHOULD BE MADE IN THESE TERMS, I HOPE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DO NOT THINK THAT

WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE NAVAL ENQUIRY, ALTHOUGH

THAT MIGHT PRODUCE ADDITIONAL POINTS WHICH COULD BE MADE LATER.

I WOULD LIKE THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO SPEAK AT THE SAME TIME TO

THE NCNA HERE.

MACLEHOSE

FILE S

HK & GD (4)

PS/MR RIDLEY PS/MR HURD

PS/PUS

SIR D MAITLAND

SIR A ACLAND

FED

DEFENCE D

PUSD

NEWS D

OID

MR CORTAZZI

PS

MR MURRAY

PS/LPS

MR J C MOBERLY

PS/MR BLAKER

2 -

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

6 GRAFTON STREET, W.1

CONFIDENTIAL