TNAG-2406-FCO40-3499-Chinese-incursions-into-Hong-Kong-waters-smuggling.-With-pho-1992 — Page 12

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 29130OZ FCO

TELNO 2421

UNCLASSIFIED

HKA 177/1

OF 291130Z SEPTEMBER 92

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

39

070203 MDHIAN 1035

CHINESE INCURSION INTO HONG KONG WATERS OF 25 SEPTEMBER.

1. THE POLICE HELD A MEETING ON 29 SEPTEMBER WITH THE GUANGDONG

PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU TO DISCUSS THE INCIDENT OF 25 SEPTEMBER.

THE CHINESE OFFERED A VERY FULL APOLOGY.

2. WE HAVE ISSUED THE FOLLOWING SELF-EXPLANATORY PRESS STATEMENT:

BEGINS.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT LAST FRIDAY'S INCURSION INTO HONG KONG WATERS HAD BEEN RESOLVED.

A PRODUCTIVE MEETING BETWEEN THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE AND THE BORDER DEFENCE BUREAU OF GUANGDONG'S PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU WAS HELD TODAY IN SHENZHEN.

THE CHINESE SIDE MADE CLEAR THEIR VIEW THAT THE CHINESE

OFFICERS HAD BEEN INCORRECT IN INFRINGING HONG KONG'S TERRITORIAL WATERS, AND IN DRAWING ARMS AND FORCING THE HONG KONG POLICE TO HAND OVER FILM. THE CHINESE SIDE SAID THAT THE CHINESE OFFICERS INVOLVED WOULD BE SEVERELY DEALT WITH, AND OFFERED APOLOGIES FOR THE INCIDENT.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAID THAT HE WELCOMED THE RESULTS OF THIS PROMPT INVESTIGATION BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. HONG KONG AND CHINA SHARED A COMMON INTEREST IN COMBATING SMUGGLING WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPHERES OF AUTHORITY. HE WAS GLAD THAT WE COULD PUT THIS INCIDENT BEHIND US AND LOOKED FORWARD TO CLOSE

CO-OPERATION IN FUTURE.

ENDS.

PATTEN

1

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