CONFIDENTIAL
063517
MDHIAN 9260
5. THE MARINE POLICE TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH CLEARLY SHOWED THE CHINESE OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE ARMED ONE, ON BOARD THE TUG AND THE LIGHTER VERY CLOSE TO CASTLE PEAK POWER STATION (I.E. CLEARLY WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS).
6. THE POLITICAL ADVISER TOLD JI SHAOXIANG OF NCNA ON 4 MAY THAT IT WAS QUITE UNACCEPTABLE FOR CHINESE SECURITY OFFICIALS TO BEHAVE AS THESE OFFICIALS BEHAVED, AND THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXPECTED A FULL EXPLANATION FROM THE CHINESE SIDE. HE AGAIN DEMANDED THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF THE LIGHTER, VEHICLES AND THE REST OF THE HONG KONG CREW. EHRMAN SAID THAT IF SUCH INCIDENTS OCCURRED AGAIN, THOSE INVOLVED WOULD BE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OFFENCES AS APPROPRIATE. HONG KONG SECURITY FORCES WOULD HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO TAKE WHATEVER MEASURES WERE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER WITHIN HONG KONG'S JURISDICTION. EHRMAN ASKED THAT MY PERSONAL GRAVE CONCERN SHOULD BE PASSED IMMEDIATELY TO ZHOU NAN.
7. THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN SAYING TO THE PRESS, WHO QUICKLY LEARNED THAT AN INCIDENT HAD TAKEN PLACE, THAT THEY ARRESTED THE LIGHTER AS IT WAS ENTERING THEIR WATERS WITH SMUGGLED GOODS. WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT THE TUG AND LIGHTER WERE BOARDED WHEN BERTHED ALONGSIDE THE PIER NEAR CASTLE PEAK BY UNIFORMED CHINESE OFFICERS WHO REMAINED ABOARD FROM DEPARTURE OF THE VESSELS UNTIL THEY REACHED CHINA.
8. NCNA HAVE CLEARLY BEEN SHAKEN BY THE PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH WE HAVE HANDED OVER. THEY AGREE THAT IF THE FACTS ARE AS WE HAVE TOLD THEM, THE CASE IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS ONE. THEY ARE CONSULTING URGENTLY WITH THE HEADS OF THE GUANGDONG FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC SECURITY DEPARTMENTS.
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