Rules of the sea
It is simple enough for any vessel to stray mistakenly off the chart from mainland territory into Hong Kong waters. There is less excuse for this to be done by boats from the Chinese Public Security Bureau, which know every inch of coastline, than there would be for foreign shipping in unfamiliar waters.
When four such incursions take place within a few months, it appears to be not so much a question of navigational ineptitude, but a deliberate flaunting of the rules. The ship which was boarded by armed bureau officers on Wednesday was well within Hong Kong waters, and has found itself intercepted by the Chinese on three previous occasions. Whatever the reasons for keeping this particular vessel under surveillance, the action could only appear illegal and provocative since the ship was clearly out of Chinese waters.
Such behaviour is particularly damaging at a time of transition to Chinese sovereignty when the sensitivities about Hong Kong's autonomy are running high. It is certainly not calculated to increase confidence on that score.
Co-operation between marine forces has been good in recent years, but there have been too many cases when mainland patrol boats have come into Hong Kong waters and acted in breach of the law. The most alarming incident occurred in November when a Panamanian-registered ship was fired over by mainland police who then threatened Hong Kong marine launches which appeared at the scene.
This time, a formal complaint has been lodged with Xinhua (the New China News Agency) and it is to be hoped that the practice will cease before it gives rise to further concern.
