SECRETARY CHERTOFF'S MEETING WITH HONG KONG CHIEF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HONG KONG 001468 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MCGANN, EAP/CM NSC FOR WILDER E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2031 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV ECON EWWT HK CH SUBJECT: SECRETARY CHERTOFF'S MEETING WITH HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE DONALD TSANG Classified By: Consul General James B. Cunningham. Reasons: 1.4 (b,d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On March 31, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff met with Hong Kong Chief Executive SIPDIS (CE) Donald Tsang. They discussed how to improve port security without impeding the flow of commerce. Tsang assessed both Hong Kong and mainland China's preparedness against an Avian Influenza (AI) outbreak: Hong Kong was well-prepared, and while China faced significant problems due to its size and relative poverty, the Chinese Government was aware of the need for prompt reporting of outbreaks. Hong Kong would close its border with the PRC if necessary, although the CE doubted whether such measures would work against a virus transmitted by migratory birds. Tsang assured Secretary Chertoff that Hong Kong was vigilant against terrorism, including possible Al Qaeda operations, and promised to cooperate in any way possible with the United States. The Secretary thanked the CE for Hong Kong's existing and effective law enforcement cooperation. End summary. Hong Kong: A vigilant, internationally responsible, city -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On March 31, Homeland Security Secetary Michael Chertoff met with Hong Kong's Chie Executive (CE),Donald Tsang. Tsang was accompned by his chief of staff, John SIPDIS Tsang (no relaton). The CE stated that Hong Kong was safer SIPDIS tha most other ports; the Hong Kong Government (HKG) hd never been complacent. His main cncern at this time was about Avian Influenza (AI),as well as terrorism. Hong Kong believes in the importance of its international links; there is a large international community resident here, from the U.S., Japan, and elsewhere; the only way for Hong Kong to progress is as an international city. The HKG is always vigilant, and continues to work on counter terrorism, anti-money laundering, and other activities such as the Container Security Initiative (CSI). In Tsang's opinion, they were getting pretty good results. Hong Kong would support any initiative that did not undermine its belief in free trade or its fundamental economic interests. US seeks improved port security -------------- ¶3. (C) Secretary Chertoff explained that he was visiting Asia to ensure that the United States was a good partner. We want greater security, and we share fundamental economic interests. We are concerned with air and maritime cargo, and with port security. We are very mindful that we cannot achieve security at the expense of the economy. Commerce must move smoothly. At the same time, if one container held a bomb that went off, that would be tremendously destabilizing. Our goal is partly educational: we want to raise the level of security and also raise the perception of the level of security. There are three elements to the U.S. program. First, we encourage the private sector to collect information on the cargoes themselves. (One hundred percent physical inspection is incompatible with the needs of the economy, so we need to explain to the public that we are better off with a screening process.) We use the results of the screening to target specific containers for inspection. Second, we use technology for non-intrusive monitoring, via radiation detectors and x-ray scanning. Third, we are improving our background checks of personnel in the ports, as well ship crews and others involved in the supply chain. Loading ports that have improved security may be eligible for expedited treatment; ports with poor security will see their goods pile up at our ports, waiting for inspection. We are very concerned that what we do not slow up movement, but at the same time we do want to actually see what's coming in. We were looking at port operations all over the world, in order to raise the level of security in an intelligent way. ¶4. (C) The CE said that at Hong Kong's airport they check 100 percent of all baggage and cargo, using cameras and other equipment. It ought to be possible to do the same with HONG KONG 00001468 002 OF 003 containers; the system at the airport does move suspicious items into the "red channel." Of course, the shipping containers are much larger. There is also the issue of containers that are trans-shipped through Hong Kong, for example from mainland ports. It would be useful for Hong Kong to know what technology to choose. Hong Kong wanted to help to the extent that its limited resources permitted. The fundamental issue would be to keep trade moving. Hong Kong was looking at its own practices to see how security could be improved. Tsang observed that, while Hong Kong faced challenges, the challenges were universal. Avian Influenza -------------- ¶5. (C) Secretary Chertoff turned to the subject of avian influenza (AI). Fortunately, there has not yet been any efficient human-to-human transmission. However, our ability to resist calls to shut everything down if there is efficient transmission will depend very much on the speed with which we get information. He asked the CE for his assessment of AI awareness in Hong Kong and mainland China. ¶6. (C) CE Tsang responded that Hong Kong took AI very seriously, after its experience with SARS. In some respects, the community has never fully recovered from the SARS experience, including its impact on health care professionals. AI is at the top of the Government's current priorities. Tsang assessed Hong Kong's preparedness as very sophisticated. They had determined how to deal with high-risk areas, and had established a network among hospitals, laboratories, the private sector and the Government to deal with an outbreak. Hong Kong had the best labs in Asia and was advanced in work on development of a vaccine. As for China's preparedness, this was an important task for them as well. Hong Kong dealt with both the central government in Beijing, and the authorities across the border in Guangdong. There is an efficient notification system, but China is huge and poor and there is accordingly the danger that not everything would be properly identified or promptly reported. ¶7. (C) Hong Kong's experience, from SARS, is that sealing the border would probably be ineffective. The virus, which is carried by migratory birds, could be rapidly mutating on both sides of the border. The CE confided that they did have the means to close the border, and could do it within a matter of hours. Nevertheless, it would be a very serious thing to do, and would only be done as a last resort. Tsang personally thought that the virus would probably already be on the loose by the time they shut down the border. ¶8. (C) Secretary Chertoff observed that there was a tendency to want to control information. Jurisdictions want to avoid being sealed off and therefore underreport. The CE replied that there was a requirement in China to send information to the national authorities. There was also good coordination at the regional level. But because this disease was spread by migratory birds, it is much harder to control. Hong Kong would be sure to be well-prepared, with stockpiles of the proper drugs. Shutting off Hong Kong was the last thing that he wanted to do, since everything was imported. Secretary Chertoff observed that the U.S. also had concerns about the impact of a quarantine -- if everyone is quarantined and no one goes to work, we face similar dangers. ¶9. (C) The CE said that when he had met with President Bush in Korea last fall at the APEC Leaders meeting, he told the President that Hong Kong was spending billions on stockpiles of tamiflu. Secretary Chertoff noted that part of the challenge of a workable vaccine was the problem of producing sufficient quantities, and also of deciding who needed to vaccinated first. The CE explained that Hong Kong would have to rely on other countries to produce the vaccine, but promised that Hong Kong would do its part, including quarantining itself if an efficient human-to-human virus transmission was taking place here. Al Qaeda -------------- HONG KONG 00001468 003 OF 003 ¶10. (C) Secretary Chertoff asked CE Tsang whether he saw Al Qaeda as a threat to Hong Kong. Tsang replied that they were aware of the potential and were monitoring dangerous elements. Most of the Muslim community in Hong Kong was from South Asia and had been here for a long time, and was moderate. Last month elements of the community demonstrated over the Danish cartoon issue; that was the first time that Hong Kong had seen any manifestations of Islamic militancy. In fact, the demonstration was very mild and restrained. But since Hong Kong is adjacent to a number of dangerous areas such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, they maintain their vigilance. The CE said that Hong Kong engaged in intelligence sharing on this subject with Singapore, and asserted that Hong Kong would leave no stone unturned in the fight against terrorism, and would assist the U.S. in any way it could. Secretary Chertoff said that he was aware that the U.S. and Hong Kong enjoyed a very strong, cooperative law enforcement relationship, and thanked the CE for the help we have already received from Hong Kong. ¶11. (U) Secretary Chertoff's party has cleared this cable. Cunningham