0003170
G.F. 317
f
Ref:- GEN/13/1681
TOP SECRET
Copy No. of 7 copies.
Special Branch,
Hong Kong Police.
Date: 23rd May, 1967.
VISIT OF U.S.S.P. SHIPPING OFFICIALS
445
TO HONG KONG.
Exordium
2.
In May and June, 1966, the Hong Kong and Whampoa
Dock Co. Ltd. (Kowloon Docks), obtained, by competitive
tender, contracts for the repair of two Russian ships. These
repairs were superintended, in Hong Kong, by Nikolai Fedorovich
BABYNIN, an Engineer and an official of Sudo import, Moscow, a U.S.S.R. trading organisation. His visit, which was tied
to the contracts, was approved as it was considered that the
business involved would be of economic benefit to the Colony.
In December, 1966, at the request of Sudoimport, Kowloon Docks tendered for repairs to a further three ships.
On the 28th January, 1967, a telegram was received from the British Ambassador, Moscow, advising that the Soviet Ministry
of Foreign Affairs was seeking a 20 day visa for Ivan Artemovich KHANGALDIAN, the vice-President of Sudoimport, "to visit Whampoa Dock and Taikoo Dockyard in connection with repairs to Soviet
ships". Then, on the 1st March, 1967, Mr. J.R. Leitch, the Chief Manager of Kowloon Docks received a telegram from Sudo- import advising him that a contract in respect of one of the three ships in question had already been signed and requesting his assistance in obtaining visas for a visit by a party of Sudoimport representatives comprising of KHANGALDIAN, Validim Nikitich AZAROV, BABYNIN, Nikolai Ivanovich ZOUEV and Oleg Alexandrovich GURYANOV; This party would have the authority to discuss tenders for the repair of a further six ships, in addition to the two outstanding tenders from the three submitted
in December, 1966.
/Two telegrams..