appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Clifford Lo

THE British Government last night summoned the Chinese Ambassador in London, Ma Yuzhen, to express 'serious concern' over gunboat incursions into Hong Kong's territorial waters.

Mr Ma also heard displeasure at the failure of police to secure the release yesterday of two Hong Kong men abducted inside territory waters by armed mainland security.

In a 10-minute meeting with Foreign Office Minister with special responsibility for Hong Kong Alastair Goodlad and officials, he undertook to report back to Beijing. He made clear that he hoped the incident could be swiftly resolved.

Mr Ma was told of the effect such incidents were having on the atmosphere in Hong Kong and the impression they gave to a population already concerned about the handover.

But Foreign Office sources stressed today that although the incident was viewed very seriously, and given the length of time the ships and crew had been detained, it was unusual.

The British Government view was that the action was due to over-zealousness on behalf of the Zhuhai authorities rather than any centrally orchestrated campaign designed to spread concern within the territory.

Although Mr Ma is not summoned into the Foreign Office in such a manner often the meeting was described as 'businesslike' and issues were gone into in some detail.

The British Ambassador in Beijing, Sir Len Appleyard, was also directed to approach the Chinese Foreign Ministry, concerning the March 18 hijacking of a tug and lighter.

Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang said: 'We very much hope that the Chinese will take immediate action to return the vessels and the crewmen and give an undertaking that it will do everything it possibly can to prevent such incursions.' China has repeatedly refused to respond to official protests on the hijacking and Deputy Commissioner, Peter Wong Tsan-kwong, failed to secure the release of the men and vessels.

The South China Morning Post yesterday found the boats, the tug Lee Wo and derrick lighter 20026P, tied up at the wharf on Guishan Island, south of the southernmost tip of Lantau Island.

It is understood the decision to increase diplomatic pressure was taken after acting Political Adviser John Ashton failed to get fresh information in a personal visit on Wednesday to the Foreign Affairs Department of the Hong Kong branch of Xinhua (New China News Agency).

A vice-director of Xinhua, Zhang Junsheng, said last night there was no need for the Hong Kong Government to 'make a big deal' out of the issue.

The escalation in the feud precedes a special meeting today of the Legislative Council Security Panel.

The panel's deputy chairman, James To Kun-sun, last night demanded the Government release photos and videotapes of the incident to determine whose version of events along the eastern edge of Hong Kong's water boundary was correct.

He said he would consider proposing the establishment of a select committee, similar to the body which probed the sacking of the Independent Commission Against Corruption's Alex Tsui Ka-kit, to ensure the full facts emerged.

'This is getting out of control and the responses so far are totally unsatisfactory,' Mr To said.

Mr Wong, who returned from Zhuhai with a top-level force delegation which included Interpol representatives, said he had received an 'unreserved apology' from the Chinese over the 'misunderstanding'.

He also pledged to improve cross-border relations.

He said he accepted an assurance from the Guangdong Public Security Bureau that no weapons were pointed at Marine Police during the incursion despite the fact an official report from his officers said they were threatened with sub-machine guns.

In a confidential report on the incident, Hong Kong officers said: 'When PL55 [a police launch] . . . attempted a boarding, the Kung Bin [border security] officer on the lighter pointed his sub-machine gun at PL55 in what was believed to be a warning gesture.' Mr Wong said he also believed the Chinese side's account that the boat under the command of the Border Defence Security Bureau - which was sighted 13 kilometres inside the territory's waters - had strayed into Hong Kong to avoid rough seas and hug the coastline.

Such an account is contrary to a report submitted to Commissioner Eddie Hui Ki-on by Marine Police.

The report says Border Defence Security Bureau officers said at time they were inside Hong Kong waters because the lighter had broken anchor during its detention.

Mr Wong said the question of the men's release was a matter for Government.

A senior Public Security Bureau officer, who declined to be named, said because his officers had intercepted the vessels in mainland waters, the two Hong Kong men should be made to face trial in China.

'It's no doubt that the two Hong Kong men are smugglers. The interception took place somewhere in between Sanmen Island and Mirs Bay and it's in Chinese water,' the officer told the Post in Zhuhai.

'So it's impossible they will be sent back to Hong Kong to attend a trial . . . [unless] there will a special deal at a high level,' the officer explained.

Acting Regional Commander, Marine, Spencer Foo Tsun-kong, refused to respond on whether the force's acceptance of the Chinese version would undermine morale in his ranks.

Asked to explain the incident, Mr Foo said responded: '. . . with the explanation from the other side and the very clear indication . . . that there was never a gun-pointing situation . . . and that if it was ever misinterpreted, it was very much regretted.' Mr Wong said there was no evidence to support allegations shots were fired at the Lee Wo and the lighter before Marine Police responded to the distress call.

He said there was no proof to substantiate the crew's claim they were taken from Hong Kong waters.

'Our initial information, including a call and a report from a fishing boat, claimed that [the incident happened in Hong Kong waters].

'Unluckily, we have no evidence to trace this and it's most likely untrue,' he said.

Mr Wong said the Public Security Bureau was continuing its investigation into the affair, adding that 47 second-hand, right-hand drive vehicles were allegedly found on board the lighter.

The Chinese had guaranteed to return the cars if it were found they were from the territory.

Mr Wong's reaction will almost certainly damage morale in marine ranks, who complain of being humiliated over the stand-off.



London enters gunboat row