SECRET
49
SHIPPING INFORMATION UNIT: FONG KONG
The Shipping Information Unit (SIU) was established
in June 1967 with the original aim of countering disruptive
moves by the communists within the harbour and among Chinese
crews recruited in Hong Kong. Tts operations were
subsequently extended to the collection of information
in China's ports including the attitude of the Port
Authorities. The general information obtained in this
way about conditions in China proved to be of great interest
to the intelligence community as a whole. When Hong Kong
Government reviewed its emergency organisations earlier
this year with a view to retrenchment in all areas where
the direct interests of the Colony were not involved, it
suggested that a part of the cost of the SIU should be
borne by users other than the Hong Kong Government. The
apportionment of costs that they suggested was Hong Kong
Gobernment 25%, local shipping interests 25%, external
users 50%.
When this was discussed in JIC it became clear
that the Defence Intelligence Staff was the only United
Kingdom agency which had a direct interest in this subject.
J.I.B. Australia are also very much involved but D.I.S. have
strongly advised that this would not be the appropriate time
to tackle them on the subject of finance. The Americans
are also interested but there are strong political
objections to involving them directly in the operations of the S.I.U. The Ministry of Defence therefore further indicated they would be prepared to put up a case for
/contributing
SECRET
M@