TNAG-2057-FCO40-2935-Armed-incursions-by-China-and-Royal-Navy-rules-of-engagement-1990 — Page 77

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SECRET

UK EYES BRAVO

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1559

OF 111035Z MAY 90

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

2

PERSONAL FOR BURNS (AUSS) FROM GOVERNOR

MY TELNO 1506 : INCIDENT ON 3 MAY IN HONG KONG WATERS : REVIEW OF RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

1 I UNDERSTAND THAT CBF HAS PROPOSED TO MOD 4 MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXISTING RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR RN VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS, FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT ON 3 MAY. WE ARE ALSO DISCUSSING REVISED PROCEDURES FOR MARINE POLICE HANDLING OF SUCH INCIDENTS, AND MORE GENERALLY HOW TO TIGHTEN OUR CONTROL OF SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES WHICH LIE AT THE ROOT OF A NUMBER OF RECENT THESE INCIDENTS. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE DECIDE ON ALL OF THESE POINTS SOON, BUT I SHOULD LIKE STRAIGHT AWAY TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS PUT TO MOD BY CBF.

2. CBF HAS PROPOSED MODIFYING 4 OF THE NATIONAL ROE IN JSP 398:

I) PROPOSAL TO CHANGE ROE 510C TO ROE 510D. ESSENTIALLY THIS WOULD PERMIT COMMANDING OFFICERS OF RN PATROL CRAEI TO AUTHORISE SERVICEMEN TO CARRY ARMS WITH LIVE AMMUNITION WHEN ON PATROL. CURRENTLY BOARDING PARTIES MAY BE ARMED BUT WEAPONS ARE TO BE UNLOADED. I AM CONTENT WITH THIS PROPOSAL, BUT I WOULD NOT ENVISAGE THE CARRYING OF ARMS AT ALL TIMES. COMMANDING OFFICERS WOULD RATHER AUTHORISE THEIR CARRIAGE WHEN THEY JUDGED IT NECESSARY EITHER TO DISPLAY RESOLVE OR TO BE IN A POSITION TO REACT QUICKLY.

II) PROPOSAL TO CHANGE ROE 550A TO ROE 550D. ROE 550A SAYS THAT ANY ACTION THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE CONSTRUED AS HARASSMENT IS PROHIBITED. ROE 550D WOULD ALLOW RIDING OFF A HOSTILE UNIT WHICH IS ENGAGED IN HARASSMENT OF AN RN OR HONG KONG POLICE VESSEL OR A HONG KONG REGISTERED VESSEL. RIDING OFF IS DEFINED AS MANOEUVRING ONE'S OWN UNIT BETWEEN AN ESCORTED UNIT AND AN OPPOSING FORCE IN ORDER TO CAUSE THAT FORCE TO TURN AWAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT MOD WOULD PREFER THE RULE TO BE CHANGED TO 550C WHICH WOULD ALLOW SCREENING'' - RATHER THAN RIDING OFF. SCREENING WOULD INVOLVE INTERPOSING AN RN

VESSEL BETWEEN AN ESCORTED UNIT AND AN OPPOSING FORCE WITHOUT

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