HC Deb 22 November 1954 vol 533 cc86-91W
88. Mr. Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total number of British ships that have been stopped on the high seas, around the coast of China, during the last five years; on what dates these incidents occurred; the names of the ships concerned; what Government or country was responsible for the interference with legitimate British shipping in each case; what action Her Majesty's Government has taken to protest to those concerned; and what compensation has been claimed and received in each case.

Mr. Turton

According to the reports, available British ships have been stopped or otherwise molested off the China coast on 251 occasions from September, 1949, to the present date. In 141 instances the Chinese Nationalist forces, or their irregulars, were responsible; in 27 instances Chinese Communist forces were responsible; in 6 instances it is believed that pirates were responsible; and in 77 instances it was not possible to identify who was responsible.

Protests have been made by Her Majesty's Consul at Tamsui and by Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in all cases where it was evident that there was improper interference with British ships and responsibility for the interference could be established.

Three claims for compensation have been made, two to the Chinese Nationalist authorities and one to the Chinese Government. The Chinese Nationalists have paid £11,638 for the injury caused to the chief officer of the "Glenearn" and for damage to the ship. A claim of £7,500 was made to the Chinese Nationalist authorities for compensation for the death of the master of the "Rosita," together with a claim of £227 for damage to the ship; the Chinese Nationalists have so far not met this claim. From the Chinese Government Her Majesty's Government claimed £20,000 for compensation for the loss of life and injuries sustained by the crew of a Royal Naval launch; this claim has been rejected.

The list giving the date of the incidents, the names of the ships and the causes of the interference is as follows:

INTERFERENCE WITH BRITISH SHIPS OFF THE CHINA COAST FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER, 1949 TO 22ND NOVEMBER, 1954.

The total number of incidents is 251. This number covers all instances of interference with British ships including occasions when the ships have 'been fired on without being stopped. The number is not restricted to incidents on the high seas. It has not been possible to distinguish whether the ships were outside Chinese territorial waters in all cases. But whether the incidents took place in Chinese territorial waters or not they are all cases in which H.M. Government consider that the action against the ships was unlawful.

2. (a) Chinese Nationalist forces, including irregulars, were responsible on 141 occasions. In 91 oases the ships were stopped or chased. In 28 cases they were fired on and not stopped. In 22 cases ships reported being intercepted, but not being stopped, chased or fired on.

  1. (b) The present Chinese Government forces were responsible on 27 occasions. In four cases the ships were stopped or chased. In 23 cases they were fired on and not stopped.
  2. (c) Pirates were responsible on six occasions. In three cases the ships were stopped or chased. In two cases they were fined on and not stopped. In one case a ship reported being intercepted, but not being stopped, chased or fired on.
  3. (d) On 77 occasions it was not possible to identify who was responsible. In 26 cases the ships were stopped or chased. In 41 cases they were fired on and not stopped. In 10 cases ships reported being intercepted but not being stopped, chased or fired on.

3. The names of the ships, the dates an which the incidents took place and the forces responsible are given in the following list.

Details of Interference with British ships off the coast of China during the period 1st September, 1949, to 22nd November, 1954

C.P.G. = Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.

Nat. = Nationalist.

Unid. = Unidentified.

Date, Name of Ship and Interfered with by

  • 7/9/49—Leong Bee—Nat warship.
  • 28/10/49—Tsinan—Nat. warship.
  • 28/10/49—Louise Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 18/10/49—Nanchang—Nat. plane.
  • 5/11/49—Tsinan—Nat. warship.
  • 8/11/49—Wosang—Nat. warship.
  • 10/11/49—Louise Miller—Nat. warship.
  • 13/11/49—Cloverlock—Nat. plane.
  • 26/11/49—Elsie Moller—Communist batteries.
  • 28/11/49—Elsie Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 4/12/49—Wing Hing—Unid. battery and plane.
  • 8/12/49—Inchmay—Nat. warship.
  • 11/12/49—Wing Hing—Communist troops.
  • 13/12/49—Taikinshan—Nat. warship.
  • 13/12/49—Lake Canim—Nat. warship.
  • 14/12/49—Admiral Hardy—Nat. warship.
  • 14/12/49—Lady Wolmer—Nat. warship.
  • 21/12/49—Cloverlock—Nat. warship.
  • 22/12/49—Shenking—Nat. gunboat.
  • 15/2/50—Caduceus—Nat. warship.
  • 3/3/50—Elsie Moller—2 Nat. fighter bombers.
  • 16/3/50—Empire Mountain—Nat. warship.
  • 28/2/50—Ethel Moller—Nat. authorities.
  • 14/3/50—Empire Park—Nat. batteries.
  • 23/2/50—Jeep Hee—Unid. Chinese warship.
  • 23/2/50—Jeep Hee—Nat aircraft
  • 23/2/50—Cloverlock—Nat. aircraft.
  • 13/1/50—Leong Bee—Nat. aircraft.
  • 24/1/50—Wingsang—Shore battery.
  • 26/1/50—Cloverlock—Nat. Gunboat.
  • 20/3/50—Taichungshan—Nat. warship.
  • 6/3/50—Sing Hing—Nat. batteries.
  • 20/4/50—Sing Hing—Unid. gunboat.
  • 24/4/50—Edith Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 27/4/50—Sing Hing—Nat. gunboat.
  • 1/5/50—Cheung Hing—Nat. gunboat.
  • 1/5/50—Incharran—Nat. warship.
  • 27/4/50—Cloverlock-Nat. warship
  • 24/5/50—Evonol—Nat. mine.
  • 15/4/50—Helikon—C.P.G. troops
  • 1/5/50—Helikon—C.P.G. troops.
  • 1/6/50—Cheung Hing—Unid batteries.
  • 5/6/50—Cheung Hing—C.P.G. battery or Nat. warship.
  • ——Glen Roy—Unid.
  • 11/6/50—Jeep Hee—Nat. warship.
  • 23/6/50—Lady Wolmer—Nat. aircraft.
  • 16/6/50—Ahui—Nat. mine.
  • 23/6/50—Frosty Moller—Nat. aircraft.
  • 16/5/50—Jade Leaf—Unidentified warship.
  • 16/5/60—Frosty Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 17/7/50—Poyang—Nat. warship.
  • 18/7/50—Empire Dirk—Nat. warship.
  • 16/6/50—Nam Bee—Unid.
  • 7/7/50—Kefalonia—Nat. warship.
  • 15/7/50—Glenearn—Nat. aircraft.
  • 29/6/50—Maxwell Branden—Nat. warship.
  • 29/6/50—Cloverlock—Unidentified battery.
  • 7/7/50—Cloverlock—Nat. battery.
  • 8/7/50—Cloverlock—Nat. warship.
  • 19/7/50—Northern Glow—Nat. warship.
  • 10/7/50—Torina—Unid. warship.
  • 3/7/50—Cheung Hing—C.P.G. battery.
  • 4/7/50—Cheung Hing—C.P.G. battery.
  • ——Soochow—Unid. battery.

Date, Name of Ship and Interfered with by

  • 16/8/50—Tsinan—Mined.
  • 23/8/50—Jeep Hee—Mined.
  • 4/9/50—Elsie Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 5/9/50—Torina—Unid. warship.
  • 21/8/50—Torina—Nat. warship.
  • 16/10/50—Torina—C.P.G. battery.
  • 19/11/50—Shan Lee—Nat. warship.
  • 19/11/50—Jade Leaf—Nat. warship.
  • 7/12/50—Wingsang—Nat. warship.
  • 17/9/50—Mahadevi—Unid. battery.
  • 9/12/50—Allegiance—Unid. battery.
  • 31/12/50—Hanyang—Unid. junk.
  • 14/12/50—Edith Moller—Unid. battery.
  • 18/2/51—Josephine Moller—Nat. Guerillas.
  • 4/1/51—Lady Wolmer—Pirates.
  • 18/2/51—Rosita—Nat. warship.
  • 18/2/51—Chungsang—Unid. junk.
  • 19/2/51—Taichungshan—Unid. junks.
  • 20/2/51—Josephine Miller—Unid. trawler.
  • 9/3/51—Lady Wolmer—Nat. warship.
  • 18/3/51—Josephine Moller—Nat. trawler.
  • 26/3/51—Hunan—Unid. junk.
  • 29/3/61—Ethel Moller—Unid. junk.
  • 8/4/51—Edith Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 13/4/5l—Yochow—Unid. junk.
  • 7/5/51—Hunan—Unid. junk.
  • 24/5/51—Taichungshan—Nat. warship.
  • ——Edith Moller—C.P.G. battery.
  • 26/5/51—Hupeh—Unid. junk.
  • 19/7/51—Admiral Hardy—Nat. vessel.
  • 19/7/51—Josephine Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 23/7/51—Rosita—Nat. warship.
  • 21/5/51—Hong Ming—Nat. guerillas.
  • 3/7/51—Ethel Moller—Nat. gunboat.
  • 12/8/51—Jade Leaf—C.P.G. junk.
  • 3/10/51—Hanyang—Nat. guerillas.
  • 23/5/51—Hydralock—Nat. guerillas.
  • 3/6/51—Ethel Moller—Nat. warship.
  • 3/7/51—Taikinshan—Nat. warship.
  • 24/6/51—Wai Sang—Nat. guerillas.
  • 30/6/51—Hupeh—Nat. warship.
  • 30/6/51—Tsinan—Nat. warship.
  • 29/8/51—Nambee—Pirates.
  • 26/8/51—Edendale—Unid junks.
  • 30/9/51—Plymouth Star—Nat. warship.
  • 29/9/51—Admiral Hardy—Nat. warship.
  • 25/10/51—Hupeh—Pirates.
  • 13/2/51—Caltex II—C.P.G. battery.
  • 16/4/51—Victoria Peak—C.P.G. battery.
  • 10/4/51—Jade Leaf—C.P.G. battery.
  • 3/5/51—Caroline Moller—C.P.G. battery.
  • 16/5/51—Shansi—C.P.G. battery.
  • 22/4/51—Ethel Moller—C.P.G. trawler.
  • 8/6/51—Edith Moller—Unid junk.
  • 8/6/51—Edith Moller—C.P.G. battery.
  • 23/8/51—Jade Leaf—C.P.G. battery.
  • 6/12/51—Hupeh—Nat. warship.
  • 5/1/52—San Eduardo—Unid.
  • 6/1/52—Hupeh—Nat. warship.
  • 23/1/52—Inchmull—Unid.
  • 14/1/52—Somali—Pirate.
  • 11/2/52—Wing Sang—Pirate.
  • 5/3/52—Plymouth Star—Unid warship.
  • 15/3/52—Socotra—Unid. junk.
  • 24/3/52—Hupeh—Unid. junk.
  • 3/6/52—San Jorge—Unid. ship.
  • 17/5/52—Hupeh—Unid. m.f.v.
  • 23/5/52—Inchmull—Unid. junks.
  • 19/5/52—Euston—Unid. warship.
  • 30/5/52—Thorncombe—Nat. warship.
  • 23/5/52—Tefkros—Nat. warship.
  • 3/5/52—Shun Lee—Nat. warship.
  • 28/6/52—Nam Bee—Nat. guerillas.

Date, Name of Ship and Interfered with by

  • 16/7/52—Rosita—Nat. warship.
  • 28/7/52—Angelina—Nat. warship.
  • 19/8/52—Euston—Unid. guerillas.
  • 8/9/52—Admiral Hardy—Nat. warship.
  • 6/9/52—Angelina—Unid. trawler.
  • 18/9/52—Inchislay—Nat. warship.
  • 24/9/52—Tak Shing—C.P.G. gunboat.
  • 9/10/52—Admiral Hardy—Nat. warship.
  • 9/10/52—Tefkros—Nat. warship.
  • 9/10/52—Nigelock—Unid. warship.
  • 25/10/52—Hupeh—Pirates.
  • 14/10/52—San Jorge—Nat. warship.
  • 13/10/52—Hunan—Nat. junk.
  • 21/10/52—San Jorge—Nat. warship.
  • 9/10/52—Nigelock—Unid. ship.
  • 11/10/52—Nigelock—Unid. warship.
  • 15/11/52—British Helikon—Nat. warship.
  • 1/12/52—Rosita—Nat. junks.
  • 16/11/52—Inchulva—Nat. warship.
  • 17/12/52—Rosita—Unid. junk.
  • 31/12/52—Sirdhana—Unid. ship.
  • 17/11/52—Inchulva—Unid. Batteries.
  • 29/11/52—Rosita—Unid. junks.
  • 31/11/52—Edendale—Unid. junks.
  • 12/2/53—Incharran—Nat. warship.
  • 24/2/53—Inchulva—Unid. warship.
  • 28/2/53—Nigelock—Unid. warship.
  • 7/3/53—Hydralock—Nat. warship.
  • 13/3/53—Inchulva—Unid. craft.
  • 24/3/53—Nigelock—Unid. warships.
  • 4/4/53—Admiral Hardy—Nat. warship.
  • 4/4/53—Admiral Hardy—Unid. warship.
  • 3/5/53—Rosita—Nat. aircraft.
  • 24/5/53—Taichangshan—Nat. warship.
  • 21/5/53—Inchislay—Unid. gunboat.
  • 5/5/53—Hydralock—Pirate under Nat. flag.
  • 6/5/53—Euston—Unid. Guerillas.
  • 21/6/53—Wing Sang—Unid. pirates.
  • 25/5/53—Nigelock—C.P.G. garrison.
  • 30/6/53—Hydralock—C.P.G. garrison.
  • 26/7/53—Inchkilda—Nat. warship.
  • 26/7/53—Inchislay—Nat. guerillas.
  • 26/7/53—Incharran—Unid.
  • 25/7/53—Nigelock—Nat. junk.
  • 28/7/53—Admiral Hardy—Nat, guerillas.
  • 30/7/53—Hupeh—Unid. Warship.
  • 16/8/53—Nigelock—Nat. warship.
  • 8/8/53—M.L.—C.P.G. warship.
  • 22/8/53—Inchulva—Nat. junks.
  • 10/8/53—M.L.—C.P.G. tug.
  • 23/8/53—Inoharranr—Nationalists.
  • 23/8/53—Nigelock—Unid.
  • 23/8/53—Lantao—Nat. junks.
  • 2/9/53—San Eduardo—Unid. Warship.
  • 9/9/53—M.L. 1323—C.P.G. ship.
  • 4/9/53—San Eduardo—Nat. warship.
  • 7/9/53—Belinda—Nat. warship.
  • 13/9/53—Inchislay—Unid. junk.
  • 15/9/53—Petfrano—Unid. M.L.S.
  • 16/9/53—Petfrano—Nat. warship.
  • 17/9/53—Inchislay—Nat. warship.
  • 16/9/53—Hydralock—Nat. warship.
  • 17/9/53—Eastern Saga—Nat. warship.
  • 18/9/53—Hydralock—Unid. warship.
  • 4/10/53—Petfrano—Unid. aircraft.
  • 7/10/53—Admiral Hardy—Nat. warship.
  • 7/10/53—Stanrealm—Unid. warship.
  • 11/10/53—Inchislay—Nat. warship.
  • 23/10/53—Lantao—Nat. warship.
  • 6/11/53—Hydralock—Aircraft and unid. warship.
  • 4/10/53—H.M.S. Modeste—C.P.G. battery.
  • 15/11/53—Hydralock—Unid. warship.
  • 8/11/53—Rosita—Unid. warship.

Date, Name of Ship and Interfered with by

  • 10/11/53—Inchulva—Nat. warship.
  • 11/11/53—Inchulva—C.P.G. battery.
  • 12/11/53—Inchulva—C.P.G. battery.
  • 14/11/53—Taichungshan—Unid. naval tug.
  • 17/11/53—Inchulva—Nat. warship.
  • 25/11/53—Inchwells—Nat. tug.
  • 25/11/53—Hydralock—Nat. warship.
  • 29/11/53—Inchulva—Nat. warship.
  • 13/12/53—Hydralock—Nat. warship.
  • 16/12/53—Nigelock—Nat. warship.
  • 14/12/53—Helikon—Nat. warship.
  • 16/12/53—Waisang—Nat. warship.
  • 2/1/54—Admiral Hardy—Unid. warship.
  • 12/2/54—Taichangshan—Nat. warship.
  • 10/1/54—Rosita—Nat. warship.
  • 14/1/54—Carinthia—Unid. warship.
  • 6/1/54—Havildar—Unid. junk.
  • 29/1/54—Inchislay—Unid. warship.
  • 30/1/54—Hydralock—Nat. warship.
  • 6/2/54—Inchkilda—Unid. warship.
  • 4/3/54—San Ernesto—Nat. warship.
  • 17/3/54—Nigelock—Unid. trawler.
  • 29/3/54—Grosvenor Mariner—Nat. warship.
  • 5/4/54—Inchwells—Nat. warship.
  • 29/4/54—Inchulva—Nat. warship.
  • 28/6/54—Inchulva—Nat. warship.
  • 29/6/54—San Eduardo—Nat. warship.
  • 9/7/54—Hupeh—Nat. warship.
  • 19/4/54—Inchwells—Nat. warship.
  • 19/7/54—Grosvenor Mariner—Unid. battery or warship.
  • 22/7/54—Grosvenor Mariner—Unid. warship.
  • 26/7/54—Inchwells—Nat. warship.
  • 18/7/54—Inchulva—Nat. battery.
  • 18/7/54—Inchulva—C.P.G. battery.
  • 29/7/54—Dovinthia—Nat. warship.
  • 24/8/54—Inchkilda—Nat. battery.
  • 7/9/54—Grosvenor Mariner—Nat. warship.
  • 7/9/54—Inchkilda—Nat. aircraft.
  • 14/10/54—Inchkilda—Nat. warship.
  • 13/11/54—Incharran—Nat warship.
  • 14/11/54—Inchwells—Nat. warship.