TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 17

185

Pl co

cc N. Cox esq

HKD, FCO

مل

APART

cof>

Feo!

Peking CONFIDENTIAL

Are not all boats

with infrared

no

pictures

Janet Rogen DA

Peking ✓ de vital & back to me

13/11/91

Cameras

now

equipped

If so,

why

PACR 1/4731/49 SCR 6/3571/78

If not,

car

reneured attempt be made to

Incidents Involving Chinese Patrol Vessels in Hong Kong Waters: Chinese Response

them

Lomt 13/11

When Chen Guoping of NCNA called on me this morning he

nu Bunte gave the Chinese response on the two incidents raised with him и

by APA (G) on 23 August.

to replace

(hard copy

fax) m

TYM.

H.

This is

2.

HKB 063/1

The first, which took place on the night of 5-6 August

was a case of a CPV speedboat mistakenly entering Hong Kong waters. The CPV had been on patrol in Chinese waters when at

0130 hrs. a smuggling speedboat was spotted. The CPV chased it at full speed whereupon the smuggling vessel turned around and

When the crew of the CPV

found that they were in Hong Kong waters, stopped and turned

the dead at credom beaded towards Hong Kong waters.

faxed around. enclave.

ND

3.

When followed by Marine Police, they thought that MARPOL were chasing the smuggling vessel so they stopped to try and intercept it. When approached by PL 70 they were unable to hear what its crew were shouting to them because of the wind. The captain of the CPV (a Bian Jian officer by the name of He Xueyuan) explained what had happened and returned to base.

4.

The facts" of the second incident on 13/14 August as

presented by the Chinese side were very different from those in APA(G)'s speaking note. The Chinese Patrol Veşsel had arrested a smuggling vessel in Chinese waters. It had never entered or

chased any vessel in Hong Kong waters. It had been returning

to base by the "usual route" when challenged. It had

identified itself to the Marine Police. The Mr. Liang of Hai

Gong referred to in the speaking note did not exist.

5.

I thanked Chen for these responses and commented that the stories regarding the second incident were markedly different. I said I would pass on to Marine Police what he had said and would let him know if we had any further comments.

CONFIDENTIAL