HC Deb 03 July 1957 vol 572 c1094
34. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been sent by the British Chargé d'Affaires in Peking to the protest of the Chinese Foreign Ministry against the permission granted by the Hong Kong authorities on 22nd March, for the shipment of the Nationalist jet fighter aircraft which landed at Kaitak on 31st January, 1956.

Mr. Ian Harvey

Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking has replied to the Chinese protest of 22nd June that, as has been previously stated, it is normal international practice that, if a military aircraft infringes the airspace of another country and lands there in the absence of hostile intentions towards the latter, or of recognition of a state of belligerency, the aircraft and crew should be allowed to return. I will, with permission, circulate the full text of the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Rankin

Could the Joint Under-Secretary of State say at the moment whether or not this machine was engaged in a training flight, or was it on operational work, and can he say if it is one of the machines which indulge in attacks in that part of the ocean, in the Straits of Formosa, on peaceful shipping?

Mr. Harvey

The aircraft was unarmed.

Mr. Rankin

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform the House how a military jet aircraft can be unarmed?

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is not a point of order.

Following is the reply:— The Office of Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires present their compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have the honour, under instructions from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to make the following communication in reply to the Ministry's Note of 22nd June concerning the Chinese Nationalist aircraft which landed in Hong Kong on 31st January, 1956. As was stated in the Note from Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires of 12th March, 1956, Her Majesty's Government gave careful study to the circumstances surrounding the landing of this aircraft and to the representations made by the Chinese Government. As was then stated, it is normal international practice that, if a military aircraft infringes the air space of another country and lands there in the absence of hostile intentions towards the latter or of recognition of a state of belligerency, the aircraft and crew should be allowed to return. In accordance with this practice, the pilot was allowed to return to Formosa in accordance with his expressed wish. As there were doubts about the serviceability of the aircraft, it was dismantled and stored, and it has since been returned to Formosa by sea. As has been previously stated, Her Majesty's Government have no intention of permitting Hong Kong to be used as a base for hostile activities against anyone and they wish again to make it clear that, if in future it is considered that facilities there are being deliberately abused, the Hong Kong Government will hold itself free to take whatever action it deems necessary to deal with such abuse.