TNAG-2406-FCO40-3499-Chinese-incursions-into-Hong-Kong-waters-smuggling.-With-pho-1992 — Page 22

UNCLASSIFIED

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY ANGUILLA

TELNO 68

OF 160948Z SEPTEMBER 92

UNCLASSIFIED,

HKA

177/1

Pa

malin

177/4

34

034426

MDLOAN 6399

Sarre fill as

chinese

AND TO PRIORITY TORTOLA, GRAND TURK, GRAND CAYMAN AND TO PRIORITY HAMILTON, PLYMOUTH, ST HELENA, STANLEY AND TO PRIORITY GIBRALTAR, HONG KONG INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, MODUK

SIC

MODUK FOR MR H PUGH, SEC(NS)

MR HOWARD, SEC(OC)

CAPT.HOWARD, DNOT

intercepts of versets kam

MIC.

7

PIRACY

1.

WE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED FOR SOME TIME OVER INCREASES IN

PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY AT SEA. ATTACKS ARE MOST PREVALENT IN SE ASIA, WEST AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA BUT IT IS A GROWING PROBLEM WORLDWIDE.

2. THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION, ENCOURAGED BY A NUMBER OF MEMBER STATES INCLUDING THE UK, ARE ADDRESSING THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION. AS PART OF THEIR PROGRAMME THE IMO HAS ISSUED A MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE (MSC) CIRCULAR ON PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY, (THIS FOLLOWS BY FAX). THE CIRCULAR REINFORCES PREVIOUS IMO RESOLUTIONS BUT ALSO CALLS FOR STATES TO ORGANISE A SYSTEM WITHIN THEIR SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) REGIONS WHEREBY RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRES (RCCS) BECOME PIRACY REPORTING CENTRES RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING COMMUNICATIONS WHEN A PIRACY INCIDENT IS REPORTED. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT WILL BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THIS IMO RECOMMENDATION IN THE UK'S SAR REGION. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON HOW THE PROPOSED COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN YOUR TERRITORIES. A PRELIMINARY OPINION BY 10 OCTOBER WOULD BE WELCOME.

*

3. WE AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE PROTECTIVE MEASURES WHICH FLAG STATES CAN TAKE TO LESSEN THE CHANCE OF ATTACKS ON THEIR SHIPS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SHIPS WHICH ARE VIGILANT AND TAKE SENSIBLE PRECAUTIONS WHEN PASSING THROUGH AREAS OF KNOWN PIRATE ACTIVITY ARE LESS PRONE TO ATTACK. WITH THIS IN MIND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT HAVE PREPARED A

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UNCLASSIFIED