TNAG-0932-FCO40-1151-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1980 — Page 112

GPS 310

GPS 310

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL RIC:

DESKBY FCO AND MODUK 291630Z PEKING 010001Z

FM HONG KONG 291620Z FEB 80

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 311 OF 29 FEBRUARY

INDEX

1020 O BOLESPASTRY NO.

-3

3 MAR 180

PA

INFO IMMEDIATE MOD UK PEKING HONG KONG GOVE OFFICER LONDON

MYTELNO 310: INCIDENT IN DEEP BAY

FOLLOWING LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS AND EXAMINATION BY BOTH SIDES , OF DAMAGE TO THE RN HOVERCRAFT AND CHINESE PATROL BOAT, THE CHINESE WITHDREW THEIR 2 PATROL CRAFT CLOSE TO THE HOVERCRAFT AT ABOUT 2040 LOCAL. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE CHINESE, THE HOVERCRAFT RETURNED TO BASE UNDER HER OWN POWER AND WITHOUT DIFFICULTY.

2. AFTER FURTHER PROTRACTED DISCUSSION OF THE PRECISE WORDING

OF STATEMENT TO BE EXCHANGED PARTICULARLY 3(B) BELOW AGREEMENT WA S REACHED AT ABOUT 2300 (LOCAL) AND OUR NEGOTIATING

TEAM RETURNED TO A POLICE LAUNCH AND TO BASE. THE INCIDENT IS

NOW OVER.

3. DOCUMENTS EXCHANGED WERE:

51

(A) STATEMENT BY THE CAPTAINS OF THE 2 VESSELS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES

OF THE COLLISION. THE RN STATEMENT WAS FACTUAL AND MADE NO ATTEMPT TO APPORTION BLAME. THE CHINESE STATEMENT IN ADDITION TO RECOUNTING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE CHINESE VESSEL, CLAIMED THAT THE HOVERCRAFT MADE NO EFFORT TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION AND SAID THAT THE BRITISH SIDE SHOULD ADMIT FAULT. IT ALSO RESERVED THE RIGHT

TO CLAIM COMPENSATION AND SAID THAT ONE CHINESE SEAMAN WAS

''SERIOUSLY INJURED''.

(B) A STATEMENT BY THE SENIOR OFFICER, HK SQUADRON, AS FOLLOWS: THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES THAT THE RN AND RHKP WILL EXAMINE PROCEDURES IN THE LIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT TO SEE WHAT MEASURE S ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT SUCH INCIDENTS RECURRING IN FUTURE. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXPRESSES THE HOPE THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WILL DO THE SAME''.

4. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE CHINESE INTEND TO PUBLISH ANY OR ALL OF THESE STATEMENTS BUT THINK IT UNLIKELY. WE DO NOT

INTEND TO DO SO.

5. SEE MIFT

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD

FED

DEF D

PUSD

NEWS D OID PS PS/LPS

PS/MR BLAKER PS/MR RIDLEY

PS/MR HURD

PS/PUS

SIR D MAITLAND

SIR A ACLAND

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

MR J C MOBERLY

CONFIDENTIAL

3