THE Government's failure to table a report on Chinese piracy at last year's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meeting embarrassed the Marine Department, infuriated the shipping industry and let Chinese authorities off the hook. The official excuse was that interceptions by representatives of a national authority could not be described as piracy. Such sophistry cut no ice with crews risking their lives in the South China Sea or with shippers facing damage to, or theft of, vessels and cargoes.
Aside from the ludicrous symbolism of forcing the IMO representative to hold a news conference in an airport lounge - as if this absolved Hong Kong from responsibility for hosting his visit - the Government has done better this time. Confidential papersdescribing Chinese official involvement in almost 50 attacks on shipping over the past 18 months have been handed to IMO safety committee chairman Admiral Thimio Mitropoulos. For all the Government's talk about preserving the integrity of the shipping lanes and maintaining Hong Kong's reputation as a safe port, this is the first time it has let international authorities do anything about it.
For once, Foreign Office and Security Branch reservations about offending China or overstepping Hong Kong's jurisdiction have been set aside, giving the United Nations maritime body grounds for examination of China's behaviour on the high seas.
China's initial response to the release of the report has been positive. It said yesterday it would bring in new regulations to restore order to some anti-smuggling units. The words will have to be followed to firm action. But the fear that making the report public would cause a new rift with China has not been realised. Instead, there is pressure on China to curb piracy. What a pity it took the Hong Kong and British governments so long to act.
