TNAG-2057-FCO40-2935-Armed-incursions-by-China-and-Royal-Navy-rules-of-engagement-1990 — Page 106

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB

177/1

063517 MDHIAN 9260

EIV

:

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MAY 1990

FM HONG KONG

INDE

TO DESKBY 0416OOZ FCO

TELNO 1460

OF 04113OZ MAY 90

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

INCIDENT ON 3 MAY IN HONG KONG WATERS

1. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF A SERIOUS INCIDENT INVOLVING ARMED CHINESE SECURITY OFFICIALS WHICH OCCURRED IN HONG KONG WATERS ON 3 MAY.

2. THE HONG KONG POLICE WERE MOUNTING AN UNDER COVER SURVEILLANCE OPERATION AGAINST A GROUP OF PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF STEALING CARS AND SMUGGLING THEM TO CHINA. A SERGEANT AND CONSTABLE IN PLAIN CLOTHES HAD GOT THEMSELVES ABOARD A LIGHTER WHICH WAS MOORED TO RECEIVE THE CARS AT THE PIER AT CASTLE PEAK. LATE AT NIGHT ON 2 MAY A SAMPAN CAME TO THE SIDE OF THE LIGHTER. IN IT WERE 5 CHINESE BORDER SECURITY OFFICERS IN UNIFORM AND 1 MAN IN PLAIN CLOTHES. ONE OF THE UNIFORMED OFFICERS WAS ARMED. THE SAMPAN REMAINED WITH THE LIGHTER, AND AN ACCOMPANYING TUG, ON AND OFF OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS UNTIL AT 4AM ON 3 MAY 3 STOLEN MERCEDES CARS WERE LOADED ONTO THE LIGHTER. THE CHINESE MAN IN PLAIN CLOTHES ON THE SAMPAN WHO APPEARED TO BE A MAINLANDER, WAS IN TOUCH BY TELEPHONE DURING THIS TIME WITH THOSE BRINGING THE CARS. AT ONE POINT HE TOLD THE HONG KONG POLICE OFFICERS THAT THE CHINESE OFFICIALS WERE QUOTE OUR MEN UNQUOTE. ONCE THE CARS WERE LOADED THE ARMED CHINESE OFFICIAL BOARDED THE TUG BOAT WHICH WAS STILL ALONGSIDE THE PIER. HE WAS FOLLOWED BY 2 OF HIS UNIFORMED COLLEAGUES. ANOTHER BOARDED THE LIGHTER. THE TUG AND LIGHTER THEN CAST OFF.

3. THE MARINE POLICE ATTEMPTED TO INTERCEPT THE VESSELS CLOSE TO CASTLE PEAK BUT THE ARMED CHINESE AIMED HIS GUN AT THEM TO PREVENT INTERCEPTION. CHINESE PATROL VESSELS APPEARED WHEN THE TUG AND LIGHTER WERE CROSSING DEEP BAY. COMMUNICATION TOOK PLACE BETWEEN POLICE LAUNCHES AND CHINESE PATROL VESSELS BUT REQUESTS TO STOP THE LIGHTER WERE REFUSED. IT CONTINUED ITS JOURNEY AND DOCKED IN SHEKOU

IN SHENZHEN.

4. STRONG PROTESTS WERE IMMEDIATELY MADE THROUGH BORDER LIAISON CHANNELS AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE. THE TWO HONG KONG UNDER COVER POLICE OFFICERS WERE RETURNED VIA LO WU LATE ON 3 MAY.

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