TNAG-0932-FCO40-1151-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1980 — Page 63

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1

H.KK 020

Record of fleeting with NCNA on 10 Bube ...

at 3 p.m.

Present:

Mr Li Jusheng

Mr Tan Gan

Dr

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INGEY

منا

2 6 JUN 1980

tio i Plus/8

Mr I C Orr

NC. $1

USTRY

Taken ܀

Miss Guan Xiuping

(Interpreter)

Deep Bay incident on 29 February 1980

Dr Wilson said that, as he had earlier told the NCNA,

a Naval Court of Enquiry had been convened to make a careful examination of the Deep Bay incident on 29 February. The Enquiry had now completed its detailed investigations and had concluded that the RN vessel had acted in accordance with international

regulations for preventing a collision at sea. The Naval vessel had suffered considerable damage. When he had first discussed

the incident with Mr Li he had said that we must reserve the fight to claim compensation. However, in the interests of good relations we believed that a clean line should now be drawn under the

incident and no claim would therefore be put forward. In the same way, we believed that the incident in Mirs Bay on 29 September 1979, in which there had been differences of opinion about what had happened,

should also be considered as closed.

2.

It was important now to think of ways of preventing such incidents in future. Police and Naval vessels operating in Hong Kong were instructed to follow international regulations aimed at avoiding collisions. (A copy of the relevant paragraphs was passed to Mr Li). It would be helpful to know if Chinese Public Security vessels also

followed similar regulations. Ten days earlier in Guangzhou, Vice-Governor Wang Ning had suggested to him that it would be useful if both sides had recognition signals for their vessels. This was a good idea. Our vessels, both Police and Naval, were equipped with a flashing blue light which they could use if there was any doubt about recognition. What signal might Chinese vessels be able to use in similar circumstances? Dr Wilson suggested that if, despite all precautions, an incident should unfortunately occur, there should be simple principles about how to handle it. He suggested that the

IMIKAL /following....

CO.