TNAG-2406-FCO40-3499-Chinese-incursions-into-Hong-Kong-waters-smuggling.-With-pho-1992 — Page 59

For information on

26 May 1992

CONFIDENTIAL

شد

امتد

HKA 1711 Piss Willing

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NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

MEASURES TO COMBAT SMUGGLING

22

20

XCCI(92)31 Copy No.

INTRODUCTION

This note informs Members of the Administration's present thinking on measures to combat smuggling. It outlines the background to the problem leading to the creation of the Anti-Smuggling Task Force (ASTF); it examines how the current anti-smuggling strategy has evolved; and it details present thinking as to the way forward.

THE PROBLEM

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By evading Chinese customs duties and drawing off foreign exchange to pay for the goods, the smugglers are adversely affecting Chinese interests financially and economically. Suppressing this traffic ought to be a matter which concerns China more than Hong Kong. But it is also a problem for Hong Kong for which we have our own reasons for wishing to reduce it

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(a) public perception in Hong Kong that the Government is incapable of preventing the blatant flouting of Hong Kong laws and territorial boundaries;

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

associated crime in Hong Kong e.g. theft of luxury

cars;

associated incursions by Chinese Patrol Vessels, either in support of smugglers or as bounty hunters; the likelihood of the trade becoming dominated by organised crime;

the danger of damage to other vessels or injury to other people in Hong Kong waters;

the evidence that speedboats are bringing firearms, ammunition, criminals and possibly drugs into Hong Kong; and

the need to reciprocate the co-operation which China extends to us in other areas.

Executive Council