RP must wait to take over HK boats

RP must wait to take over HK boats

HONG KONG (AFP): The Philippines will have to wait until Hong
Kong is handed over to China to receive three naval patrol boats
being sold by the territory's military, a British forces
spokesman said yesterday.

The three ships will only be available for sale after the
handover to China on July 1, 1997 with 75 per cent of the sale
revenue to be handed to the Hong Kong government which funded 75
per cent of the ships' costs.

The British Government will receive the remaining 25 per cent
of the proceeds from the sale, the spokeman said in a statement.

The statment came a day after the British embassy in Manila
announced the Philippines government had written to the British
secretary of state for defense declaring its intention to acquire
the three Royal Navy patrol craft.

The patrol craft from the Royal Navy Hong Kong Squadron
include three Peacock class patrol craft: HMS Peacock, HMS Plover
and HMS Starling.