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THAT THE CHINESE SHIPS WERE ON THE HONG KONG SIDE OF THE BAY. BUT THE CHINESE ARE CLEARLY WILLING TO DENY POINT BLANK EVEN SUCH OBVIOUS EVIDENCE. HOWEVER RELUCTANT WE ARE TO LET SUCH A BLATANTLY DISHONEST RESPONSE GO WITHOUT FURTHER CHALLENGE, WE SEE LITTLE POINT IN PURSUING THE MATTER FURTHER.
5. IF ASKED ABOUT A CHINESE RESPONSE (BUT ONLY IF ASKED) WE INTEND TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED ONE BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO ABOUT THE FACTS OF THE CASE. WE HAVE MADE CLEAR OUR CONCERN AT WHAT WE BELIEVE TO HAVE OCCURRED.
6. IF WE RECEIVE A LEGCO QUESTION WE WILL NEED TO SET OUT THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM MORE FULLY: PLUS THE CHINESE DENIAL. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL BE PRESSED TO SHOW THE PHOTOGRAPHS. THE SUNDAY POST ARTICLE CORRECTLY STATED THAT THESE EXISTED. BUT WE WOULD PREFER TO AVOID DOING SO. IT COULD BE AN UNHAPPY PRECEDENT TO SET.
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