TNAG-0932-FCO40-1151-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1980 — Page 6

GRS 175

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKEY F C O 071233Z

DESKBY MOD #71232Z

CONFIDENTIAL CHKK0201

FM HONG KONG 071200Z JULY 80

AND IN ROSSLY NO

-

- 9 JUL 1980

DES OFICER

PA

SEGISTRY

on Take

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 861 OF 7 JULY

INFO IMMEDIATE MOD PEKING

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

28)

/29

MY TELNO'S 839 AND 840: HMT CLARE

INDEX

منا

he Publ

THE PRESS HAVE NOW GOT ONTO THE STORY AND HAVE ASKED BOTH ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND FOR CONFIRMATION THAT SHOTS WERE

FIRED AT CLARE.

2. THE FORCES PRESS OFFICE ARE ISSUING THE STATEMENT IN MY TELNO 840 AT 2100 (LOCAL) TODAY PREFACING IT BY SAYING THAT IT IS IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUERIES AND ADDING A NAVAL BOARD OF ENQUIRY

IS NOW BEING HELD "'.

3. IN ANSWER TO PRESS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER SHOTS WERE FIRED AT CLARE THE SPOKESMAN WILL SAY THAT NO SHOTS WERE FIRED AT (REPEAT AT) CLARE. HOWEVER THE COASTGUARD VESSEL FIRED WARNING

SHOTS INTO THE AIR TO INDICATE TO CLARE THAT SHE HAD STRAYED INTO

CHINESE WATERS.

4. THE SPOKESMAN WILL DEFLECT FURTHER QUESTIONS OF SUBSTANCE BY

REFERRING TO THE BOARD OF ENQUIRY AND SAYING THAT THE MATTER IS

NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION.

5. WE HAVE WARNED THE NONA.

MACLEHOSE

FILES HK GD

71ED.

DEF. D.

جره

NEWS D

PS/LPS

B/GYN BLAKER Ps/pas

SIL E YOUDE

Coles To

HONG KONG GOUT

CONFIDENTIAL

43