Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1
TJ B George, Esq.
Assistant Political Adviser
Colonial Secretariat HONG KONG
Telephone 01-
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
24 JUN1974
Your reference
Our reference.
HKK 21/4
Date
21 June 1974
HKK 175 1167760
175/303/1
10
REPAIRS TO SOVIET VESSELS IN HONG KONG
1.
Hugh Davies passed to us your letter SCR 22/5061/66 Pt ! of 7 June. I am sorry that we have not been able to reply more
quickly.
2.
The Ministry of Defence have now told us that the 'M Uritskiy' is a normal passenger ship. Her inclusion on the latest Mo! list of Soviet research vessels and other ships on non-commercial charter, seems to have been an error; and MoD do not think there is any reason for excluding her from Hong Kong. She has apparently (as you note in your letter) on one recorded occasion been fitted up for special purposes, but with equipment which I understand would be quite obvious to the external observer.
3.
No "advance notice of intention" of a visit has been received. However, in view of the above, none would be required.
cc: Miss Wilkin
DS5
Ministry of Defence
SECRET
B H Dinwiddy
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department