Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HONGKONG1368
2008-07-25 09:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:
REPORTED THEFT OF CESIUM-137 FROM HONG KONG
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHHK #1368 2070923 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 250923Z JUL 08 FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5413 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2415
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 001368
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR STATE DS/IP/EAP, ISN/CTR AND PMISO/PMAT
BEIJING FOR RSO AND OCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM KCRM PTER PREL ASEC HK
SUBJECT: REPORTED THEFT OF CESIUM-137 FROM HONG KONG
HOSPITAL
REF: STATE 16209
Classified By: RSO Vincent Graham, Reason 1.4 (c)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 001368
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR STATE DS/IP/EAP, ISN/CTR AND PMISO/PMAT
BEIJING FOR RSO AND OCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM KCRM PTER PREL ASEC HK
SUBJECT: REPORTED THEFT OF CESIUM-137 FROM HONG KONG
HOSPITAL
REF: STATE 16209
Classified By: RSO Vincent Graham, Reason 1.4 (c)
1. (C/NF) On Monday, July 21, 2008, the Assistant Regional
Security Officer (ARSO) and a NFATC Crisis Management Team
Leader paid a liaison visit to the Hong Kong Police Force
(HKPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Headquarters in
advance of two crisis management exercises at the U.S.
Consulate General. During a tour of the facility, the head
of the HKPF EOD Unit made an "off the cuff" remark that one
of his biggest security concerns for the upcoming Olympic
Equestrian events in Hong Kong was the February 2008 theft of
a small quantity of Cesium-137 from the United Christian
Hospital in Kwun Tong. The HKPF EOD Unit has primary
responsibility for responding to any type of nuclear or
radiological incident.
2. (U) After returning to the Consulate General, the
security office located two small South China Morning Post
(SCMP) articles, dated 2 February and 3 February, 2008. The
SCMP articles detailed the theft of the Cesium-137 which was
purportedly in jelly form and stored within sealed plastic
bottles inside lead containers. The containers were
supposedly secured behind locked doors in the hospital's
Department of Radiology and Organ Imaging. The paper
reported that there were no signs of burglary, but that
maintenance work had been going on recently in the room next
door. The first article concluded by asking that anyone
knowing the whereabouts of the Cesium-137 to report it
immediately to the Hong Kong Police.
2. (SBU) Following up, on Thursday, July 23, 2008, the
Regional Security Officer contacted several sources within
the HKPF and asked for an update on the investigation into
the theft of the Cesium-137. The police reported that they
have not recovered the stolen Cesium-137 and that they did
not have any new leads in the case. The Regional Security
Office will continue to monitor the case and will report if
there are any new developments.
Marut
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR STATE DS/IP/EAP, ISN/CTR AND PMISO/PMAT
BEIJING FOR RSO AND OCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM KCRM PTER PREL ASEC HK
SUBJECT: REPORTED THEFT OF CESIUM-137 FROM HONG KONG
HOSPITAL
REF: STATE 16209
Classified By: RSO Vincent Graham, Reason 1.4 (c)
1. (C/NF) On Monday, July 21, 2008, the Assistant Regional
Security Officer (ARSO) and a NFATC Crisis Management Team
Leader paid a liaison visit to the Hong Kong Police Force
(HKPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Headquarters in
advance of two crisis management exercises at the U.S.
Consulate General. During a tour of the facility, the head
of the HKPF EOD Unit made an "off the cuff" remark that one
of his biggest security concerns for the upcoming Olympic
Equestrian events in Hong Kong was the February 2008 theft of
a small quantity of Cesium-137 from the United Christian
Hospital in Kwun Tong. The HKPF EOD Unit has primary
responsibility for responding to any type of nuclear or
radiological incident.
2. (U) After returning to the Consulate General, the
security office located two small South China Morning Post
(SCMP) articles, dated 2 February and 3 February, 2008. The
SCMP articles detailed the theft of the Cesium-137 which was
purportedly in jelly form and stored within sealed plastic
bottles inside lead containers. The containers were
supposedly secured behind locked doors in the hospital's
Department of Radiology and Organ Imaging. The paper
reported that there were no signs of burglary, but that
maintenance work had been going on recently in the room next
door. The first article concluded by asking that anyone
knowing the whereabouts of the Cesium-137 to report it
immediately to the Hong Kong Police.
2. (SBU) Following up, on Thursday, July 23, 2008, the
Regional Security Officer contacted several sources within
the HKPF and asked for an update on the investigation into
the theft of the Cesium-137. The police reported that they
have not recovered the stolen Cesium-137 and that they did
not have any new leads in the case. The Regional Security
Office will continue to monitor the case and will report if
there are any new developments.
Marut