TNAG-0932-FCO40-1151-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1980 — Page 77

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DAMAGED. THAT BRITISH HOVERCRAFT HAD ALSO BEEN DAMAGED. THE CHINESE

VIEW WAS NOW THAT THE INCIDENT SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN, AND BOTH

SIDES SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE FUTURE. CONTACTS COULD BE

STRENGTHENED SO THAT FURTHER SUCH INCIDENTS COULD BE AVOIDED:

THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES WOULD BE PLEASED TO HEAR ANY CONCRETE

SUGGESTIONS FROM THE HONG KONG SIDE.

5. SULLIVAN THANKED ZHENG FOR THIS STATEMENT, WHICH HE PROMISED

TO PASS ON. HE SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THE HONG KONG SIDE WERE

ALSO CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT, THE RESULTS

OF WHICH THEY WOULD WISH TO PASS ON TO THE CHINESE SIDE IN DUE

COURSE. IN ADVANCE OF THIS HE COULD NOT COMMENT ON THE QUESTION

OF ANY FOLLOW-UP TO THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT. HE WAS SURE THAT

THE HONG KONG SIDE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS

FURTHER COOPERATION WITH THE GUANGDONG SECURITY OFFICIALS WITH A

VIEW TO PREVENTING FURTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND WOULD ALSO BE GLAD TO HEAR ANY CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS FROM THEM.

6. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR NEWS OF OUTCOME OF ENQUIRY FOR

BACKGROUND IN CASE QUESTION IS RAISED AGAIN IN PEKING, BUT

PRESUME FURTHER CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE WILL TAKE PLACE LOCALLY.

CRADOCK

FILES

HK & GD

DEFENCE D

FED

SIR D MAITLAND

MR MURRAY

MR STRATTON

[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON

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