TNAG-2057-FCO40-2935-Armed-incursions-by-China-and-Royal-Navy-rules-of-engagement-1990 — Page 41

CONFIDENTIAL

21

172241 MDLIAN 5551

HKB

177

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO PRIORITY F CO TELNO 806

OF 312305Z MAY 90

0 1 JUN 1990

19:56 7/6

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, -UKREP JLG HONG KONG

13.

HONG KONG TELNOS 1640 AND 1706.

INCIDENT ON 3 MAY IN HONG KONG WATERS.

1. I NOTED FROM PARA 11 OF FIRST T U R THAT HONG KONG ARE CURRENTLY PREPARING A NOTE ON ALL OF THE INCIDENTS OF INCURSIONS INTO HONG KONG WATERS FOR US TO HAND OVER TO THE MFA. IN VIEW OF THE PROGRESS REPORTED IN SECOND TUR, I DO NOT (NOT) THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO RAISE AGAIN WITH THE MFA

THE QUESTION OF INCURSIONS INTO HONG KONG WATERS. THIS IS AN

ISSUE THAT IS PROPERLY DEALT WITH THROUGH NORMAL BORDER LIAISON CHANNELS. AS LONG AS THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES ARE IN REASONABLY COOPERATIVE MOOD, AS, TO JUDGE FROM SECOND T U R, THEY NOW APPEAR TO BE, I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP DISCUSSIONS OF THIS AT LOCAL LEVEL. TO RAISE INCURSIONS NOW WITH THE MFA WOULD

RUN THE RISK OF UNNECESSARILY ANTAGONISING THE CHINESE, IN PARTICULAR GUANGDONG. THIS WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO ACHIEVE THE RETURN OF THE SMUGGLED CARS, AND COULD SOUR THE HARMONIOUS ATMOSPHERE ACHIEVED ON NEW ANTI-SMUGGLING MEASURES (PARA 5 OF

SECOND TUR).

2.

IF PROGRESS THROUGH THE BORDER LIAISON CHANNELS IS NOT MAINTAINED, WE CAN THEN CONSIDER AGAIN HOW TO TAKE THIS FORWARD AND WHETHER WE NEED TO APPROACH THE MFA.

DONALD

YYYY

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